Interdisciplinary Ingenuity: Lawrenceville's Second Form Shakespeare Experience

Lawrenceville’s academic departments are joining forces to offer a unique educational experience to its first-year students. Through a collaborative effort between the English, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts Departments, the annual Second Form Shakespeare production has become a hallmark of interdisciplinary learning at the institution. This year, the Class of 2027 took on the challenge of staging the timeless comedy, “As You Like It.”

The integration of Shakespearean literature into the curriculum is coupled with a practical application through a concurrent theatrical production, involving an all-Second Form cast and crew. Furthermore, students enrolled in the Visual Arts Foundations of Design course, designed exclusively for Second Formers, are tasked with creating promotional materials for the Shakespeare production, providing real-world context for their learning.

According to Jess Magnuson, chair of the English Department, Second Form English serves as an initiation into Harkness learning. In this environment, students are encouraged to actively engage with literature in and outside the classroom, aligning with the English Department’s desire to bring the joy of reading and engaging with literature to students.  “And what better way of doing that than being part of a production or promotion team – for something you’ve been reading?” Magnuson asked.

Steve LaRochelle, English teacher and Second Form English course team leader, highlighted the significance of students bringing their experiences from rehearsals into their English class discussions. LaRochelle emphasized that this active engagement fosters a deeper comprehension of the play as a collaborative performance rather than just individual study.

“All year, we teach active engagement with literature through annotating, asking questions at the Harkness table, and editing and revising essays, but doing – or watching or promoting – a play helps extend that engagement beyond classroom walls,” LaRochelle said.

Second Formers Brenner Emo and Finn Barnosky (who played brothers “Oliver de Boys and “Orlando de Boys,” respectively) agreed that their work on the play deepened their understanding of Shakespeare’s classic.

“It took the play from simply being words on a page to a real thing with real people that I know, as the actors. This has helped me envision it in my head, and really helped with my reading it in English class,” said Brenner. “Overall, it made it really fun and interesting for me, and I’m really grateful to have had the experience.”

Barnosky concurred, stating that he got a better understanding of ‘As You Like It’ because of his cast-mates. “Having them say their lines to me with the same diction as they would be said in real life gave me a strong understanding of the meaning that I would not get if I just read the text on the page,” he said.

Students at the beginning of the Harkness journey, said LaRochelle, are eager to engage “but it’s not always particularly polished or orderly, and that’s where the learning happens.”

LaRochelle elaborated on the benefits of beyond-the-classroom learning, emphasizing the development of critical thinking skills and the ability to articulate ideas effectively in collaborative settings. He stressed the importance of preparation and open-mindedness in Harkness discussions, where the goal is not to dominate but to enrich the collective understanding.

 “This requires them to let go of any aspirations to ‘win’ the discussion, and to enter the space with a willingness to change their minds,” he said. “We also want students to begin to see and feel that the better prepared they are when they walk into a room, the more likely they are not only to contribute to the discussion, but also to enjoy doing so.”  

By the end of the term, Magnuson explained, students should feel comfortable and confident at a Harkness table. “They should know how to participate thoughtfully in a conversation, both as a listener and a substantive contributor,” said Magnuson. “Through Harkness learning, we really emphasize that learning is a collaborative effort, a team effort. We work to build each other up.” 

Just as musical notations do not provide the full experience of a song, neither does reading a play from a book, according to Matt Campbell, chair of the Performing Arts Department and Second Form Shakespeare Director. Being part of the production, inhabiting the roles or making decisions about sets, costumes, and stage direction, deepens their understanding of the playwright’s intent. “There’s a real impact on the students who come to rehearsal having just studied the work in English class. The actors, for example, end up playing their characters in a far more familiar way and with less inhibitions about Shakespearean English,” he said.

Chloe Kalna, chair of the Visual Arts Department, said it is always wonderful when interdisciplinary projects are possible. “Reading the play in the English classroom and, for some, also participating in rehearsals and performances as a member of the cast or crew opens up new ways of thinking and approaching a design and visual communication assignment that can connect back to a comment or moment beyond the design studio.”

This interdisciplinary approach to Shakespeare gives Second Formers leadership experience. Whether they are starring on stage, leading the backstage crew, or seeing their designs on display outside the theater, it is an opportunity to take ownership and responsibility. “It’s amazing to see the students come out of their shells a bit and to see how talented they all are,” Magnuson said.

The Second Form English and arts courses also present bonding experiences for the youngest Lawrentians. “These are the first relationships students form on campus and sometimes the most enduring,” said LaRochelle. “I enjoy having a front row seat for that.”

Please visit Lawrenceville’s Flickr page to see more photos from the Second Form’s production of “As You Like It.”

For additional information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.