Abraham Lincoln and One Destiny: The Stage Where Entertainment Meets Education
Since I was a kid, I have studied Abraham Lincoln. On my first day of first grade, I asked my teacher when we would talk about him. I begged my parents to take me anywhere that included Lincoln history while on family vacations. Between then and about 15 years ago, I visited Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C at least 20 times.
I left the Theatre with my answer: I was driven by a desire to learn more, despite my skepticism — and I certainly did. My deeper learning came from Ford’s Theatre’s use of entertainment as an educational tool. It demonstrated how education and entertainment are now fully and seamlessly intertwined, forever changing how we approach learning.
The Play
I was dubious but excited to be ushered into the Ford’s Theatre basement museum before ascending to the theatre. When seated in the theatre, I expected to sit for a traditional lecture. Instead, I was treated to a remarkable two-person performance called One Destiny.
One Destiny invites audiences to learn about President Lincoln’s assassination from two men who were there: actor Harry Hawk and Ford’s Theatre co-owner Harry Ford. As they revisit the fateful events of April 14, 1865, they reconstruct the sequence of events while struggling with the question: Could John Wilkes Booth have been stopped?
I was captivated. Completely engrossed in the story told through play, I noticed that, despite the lady distractingly eating chips directly behind me, I did not want it to end. Why was this experience so much better than the many I had seen before that day?
Education and Entertainment
In a world where attention spans appear to be growing shorter and shorter, in many instances, learning has transformed from a mundane task into an engaging experience tailored to captivate audiences. The play at Ford’s Theatre is a performance that brilliantly merges entertainment with education, arguably highlighting how necessary an enjoyable learning experience has become.
The 40-minute production explores the key facts surrounding Lincoln’s assassination while capturing what associated figures might have experienced on that fateful night. With skilled actors and immersive staging, we were transported back to the 1860s.
Instead of a dry lecture, the performance is a lively portrayal filled with facts, emotion, and relatable themes. Even knowing what was coming, I was startled by the reverberation of a gunshot sound. As the actors turned their heads toward the balcony where Lincoln sat, so did I. I was emotionally and fully engaged with the narrative.
This approach shows how learning today often relies on entertainment to make history accessible and relatable. By weaving in elements of drama and humor, the production captures the audience’s attention far more effectively than traditional methods could. In doing so, it fosters a deeper understanding of significant events and figures in American history, demonstrating an example of how education is changing.
Before You Bristle
This does not mean that educators now have to be entertainers. It highlights how we might be nudged to consider new ways to augment our teaching styles.
It is normal for educators to feel challenged by the implication that we must adopt an entertainment persona to keep their students engaged. However, similar to what I witnessed at Ford’s Theatre, educators do not have to become performers to include elements of engagement in their teaching.
Including creativity, storytelling, social media, and interactive activities, educators can create a more vibrant learning atmosphere that resonates with today’s students. Just as the performances at the Theatre captivated the audience through relatable narratives, we can foster a love for learning by finding creative ways to weave stories into lessons without losing authenticity.
It is about capturing students’ attention and inspiring curiosity versus transforming classrooms into stages. My experience at Ford’s Theatre reminded me that when educators draw upon their passions and interests, they engage students in engaging and meaningful ways, making history — and all subjects — come alive.
Conclusion
My experience at Ford’s Theatre serves as a reminder of how learning is evolving into a more entertaining endeavor. By blending education with engaging narratives and utilizing modern technology, we can ignite curiosity and foster a love for learning that matches students’ learning styles.
Embracing a new era of entertainment-focused education helps me look forward to a future where knowledge is not only accessible but also enjoyable. This ensures that a wide range of topics will resonate with many generations to come.
