The Blue Heart Foundation in partnership with the Old Globe Theater treated a night out for the youth and families to a viewing of Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors”. We are a locally based mentoring program that is focused on the empowerment and education of under-served children and foster youth. Our program is based on three categories: 1) Abilities, 2) Applications, and 3) Character which are developed by education, empowerment and teamwork.
As part of our program we feel it important to expose youth to events they may not normally have the opportunity to see and in this instance we viewed 
Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors”. The Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of identical twins that were accidentally separated at birth. This jazz-drenched New Orleans setting of the Old Globe’s just-opened production was presented with a ‘20s makeover, with brass bands marching through at scene breaks and the cast busting out such old-time jazz standards.”
There were points throughout when musicians saunters about onstage to play soulful accompaniments that kept the entire crowd engaged and excellent ensemble work all around. However, certain moments that stood out were: A barn-burning, revival-meeting scene featuring a hilarious turn by Austin Durant as a faith-healing Dr. Pinch… “Youve been healed!” of every issue from baldness to gout … He just couldn’t cure bad credit.
We believe culturally enriching field trips matter. They produce significant benefits for students on a variety of educational outcomes that schools and communities care about. The effects of field trips to see live theater demonstrates that seeing plays is an effective way to teach academic content; increases our youth’s tolerance by providing exposure to a broader, more diverse world; and improves the ability of students to recognize what other people are thinking or feeling. These are significant benefits for students on specific educational outcomes that schools pursue and communities respect. Especially when considered alongside our community service efforts.
Lastly, you can never know what may impact a child’s life. Not all learning occurs most effectively within the walls of a school building. Going on enriching field trips to cultural institutions makes effective use of all of a community’s resources for teaching children. You can never know what may impact a child’s life.
