Heritage through the Arts

Capitalizing on the power of the arts to convey meaning and invoke participation,The Center for American Heritage Studies presents heritage to the public through theatrical productions. When it comes to history or heritage, most citizens absorb knowledge about the past outside their history classes. For what its worth, it is not the history teacher or professor that commands the flow of history-heritage to the public, that position is held by the motion picture industry (for example, JFK, Braveheart, Pearl Harbor), tourist destinations (Colonial Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, Gettysburg), and best-selling books (John Adams, Da Vinci Code).

Unlike a passive book or movie or museum, live-theatre can bring the past to life. With trained actors-historical interpreters, an engaging set, vivid costumes, and, of course, a lively script, arts and education programs provide excellent opportunities to bring the past into view. The purpose is not to "teach" or provide some didactic instruction, but to stir and provoke feelings and more importantly, to prompt questions about the characters and story presented. Done right, arts and education programs provide another attractive and creative venue for the absorption of heritage.

In its first year, with professional quality standards, the Center produced the Broadway hit musical 1776, created the world premier of the Fred Waring Radio Show, and collaborated with the staging of the classic favorite, The Nutcracker, set in Central Pennsylvania, 1863.

As an academic entity of Penn State University, these inventive theatrical programs explore the vitality and potential of applying the arts to present American heritage to the public.