The musicals of Thompson and Russell promote healthy character development in young performers and audiences. The shows are produced frequently by SALAD, the Student Actors League of Arts and Drama. SALAD is an enrichment program at a public school in central New Jersey.
In 2011, the SALAD program was cited as a “Promising Practices” program by the Character Education Partnership. The CEP is a Washington, DC based organization of “passionate people advocating for integrity, honesty, respect, and other core ethical values to be fused into education for the betterment of our nation.” The CEP cited these musicals for the way they “…present a moral and promote character education … students view characters correcting wrong choices and taking healthy steps to create a supportive community.” These musicals help create a community and can integrate an educational curriculum.
The Character Enrichment Partnership is concerned with “Providing the vision, leadership and resources for school, families and communities to develop ethical citizens committed to building a just and caring world.”
The goals of Thompson & Russell’s Musicals with Character program are in line with the goals of the CEP, allowing “…students of all abilities and talents to become involved in a nurturing theatrical production that not only teaches about character, but also inspires it!”
The citation can be found by clicking here.
The CEP Citation
