1812 Education

1812 Education opens up the power of communication and expression for students through the art of comedy and theatre, giving them a new perspective on how to learn and connect with their communities, their education, and themselves.

Meet The Team

1812's Teaching Artists are a fantastic group of Philadelphia teaching/performing/writing/directing/art-making indiviuals that we're so pleased to gring to local classrooms. At the beginning of the 2021/2022 school year, we asked each of our Teaching Artists a few fun questions about themselves and where they find some joy!

Severin is black. They have light brown skin and curly black hair, They are resting in the soft grass, eyes closed, smelling a purple flower, feeling the sunshine kiss them on the face.

Severin Blake
What brings you joy? Dancing!
What is your favorite thing to do outside theatre? Spending time in nature.
Share a fun anecdote about yourself! I like listening to trees, bees, and the breeze.

A picture of a Caucasian guy in his late 30s

Chris Davis
What brings you joy? Learning and teaching, teaching and learning. I love seeing students open new chapters of their imagination, think creatively, and the best part is I always learn something along the way as well. Seeing a student progress and grow and learn how to express themselves creatively and constructively is infinitely rewarding.
What is your favorite thing to do outside theatre? My favorite thing to do outside of theatre is definitely bicycling! I cycle a lot just to get places, but at least 3-4 times a week I make time to bike around the Fairmount Park bike loop.
Share a fun anecdote about yourself! A fun thing about me is I lived in Mexico for three years. Specifically, Chiapas for one year, and Mexico City for two. I studied Spanish and learned a lot about the culture there, and I found every day new challenges and new joys. It was great to get outside of the United States and see the world from a different perspective.

An image description of the photo you sent (textual description of what we see in the photo, for patrons who are blind or have low vision.: A woman smiles at the camera against a black background. She wears a black blouse and black earrings that say No. You cannot touch my hair.

Donovan Lockett
What brings you joy? Uninhibited laughter, community, God, amazing vegan food, the South, watching my students succeed
What is your favorite thing to do outside theatre? I absolutely love investing in my physical health. If I'm not performing or teaching, catch me somewhere around Philly engaging in some wild fitness routine!
Share a fun anecdote about yourself! I'm your textbook visual learner, and it can be really challenging for me to take in information when it's purely an auditory experience. For that reason, I shocked myself in quarantine when I co-created my own podcast! It's called Black Light the Spotlight, and it educates listeners on representation in the arts.

A white latina with auburn hair is standing in a golden field of tall grass. She is wearing all black, a brown backpack and holding a blade of grass, closing her eyes and smiling.

Tanaquil Márquez
What brings you joy?
Basketball! I never played before, but during the pandemic it was like meditation.
What is your favorite thing to do outside theatre?
Creating experiences.
Share a fun anecdote about yourself!
I am the fastest walker in my circle of friends.

I (Adaeze Nwoko), am lounging in a hammock listening to music, while soaking in the seasalt air in Cartagena Colombia.

Adeaze Nwoko
What brings you joy?
Puzzles bring me an immense amount of joy. I love all sorts of puzzles; jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, mystery novels, and more. There are tidbits of magic that exist in the possible outcomes, and the potential that each puzzle piece holds. Few things parallel the satisfaction that is born of completing a puzzle.
What is your favorite thing to do outside theatre?
Outside of theatre, I’m an avid cook. Being a part of a large family helped me see love as an infinite resource, with food being the ultimate labor of love. I have fond memories of hours spent in the kitchen with my siblings laboring over meals we would devour in 5 minutes. This instilled in me a passion for the process, the balance, and sharing the love born of my kitchen.

Katherine (she|they), a white person with burgundy hair worn down with bangs, is wearing yellow glasses, a dark blue shirt, and smiling in front of a rainbow background.

Katherine Perry
What brings you joy?
Every morning I drink a cup of coffee outside in my tiny backyard. I'm delighted watching the herbs and flowers I've planted grow despite having no idea what most of them are or what I'm doing.
What is your favorite thing to do outside theatre?
I love to cook and make a mess in the kitchen. I do not like to clean it up, though.
Share a fun anecdote about yourself!
One of my greatest sorrows is being too scared to go on the Jaws ride at Universal Studios.

History

1812 Education is our unique, in-school theatre-education program that uses comedy's often-overlooked power to illuminate, empower, and unite students through community and joy.

Winner of the 2016 Victory Foundation Barrymore Award and the 2012 George Bartol Arts Education Award, 1812 Education is an in-school arts program that serves students at two Philadelphia public schools: South Philadelphia High School and The Widener Memorial School for Children with Disabilities. In operation since our inception, 1812 Education supplements the academic and the life skills curriculum at our partner schools by teaching students the basics of theater, including playwriting, acting, stage presence, and character development in weekly workshops.

Given the current financial instability of public education, programs like 1812 Education are an essential piece of a well-rounded education for public school students. 1812 Education seeks to bolster the arts for students with otherwise limited access to them. As a result of arts programs in schools, students have been shown to be more confident, more comfortable, and achieve higher grades. In particular, our program that focuses not just on theatre but on comedy works to help students see their world from a new perspective and find common ground with their peers while exploring their own self-expression and boosting their confidence. 1812 Education and our partner schools guide these students to discover the power of the arts, and, specifically, the power of theatre and laughter to open their minds, change their perspectives, and introduce them to new ways of learning.

Currently, 1812 Education serves approximately 100 students at two Philadelphia public schools. Widener Memorial School is composed of 50 young adults, 6 to 21 years old, who possess developmental, physical, or medical disabilities. South Philadelphia High School includes 50 students, 20 of those who are English Language Learners.

For more information about 1812 Education and its programs, please email Tanaquil Márquez, Education Director, at tanaquil@1812productions.org

1812 Productions at The Widener Memorial School

Photos by John Flak

Photo by John Flak