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Theater Magic
Bringing Higher Ideals to Life Through Story
Each spring, Living Wisdom's lower school presents a full-length theater production based on the life of a great soul — someone whose actions were guided by courage, compassion, truth, or a deep awareness of the divine. Over the past 32 years, students have portrayed the lives of St. Francis, Kuan Yin, Harriet Tubman, the Buddha, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus, Krishna, Yogananda, Moses, Hafiz, Joan of Arc, George Washington Carver, Luther Burbank, and others.
A Collaborative Schoolwide Project
Theater Magic is an all-lower school endeavor. Every class, from TK through 8th, participates in bringing the production to life:
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Younger children contribute through dance, movement, and song.
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Older students take on speaking roles and help shape the transitions between scenes.
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Students learn about the time period, setting, and the approach to life of the figure they are portraying.
Rehearsals take place in small scene groups, with mixed ages working together. This creates a simple, natural way for students to learn from one another and participate at a level appropriate to their age and readiness.
The process is steady and structured, with attention given to clarity, presence, timing, and the practical skills of stagecraft.
Why We Choose These Stories
The individuals we choose to portray each lived with a sense of higher purpose. Their lives show what it looks like when someone is guided by conscience, courage, devotion, and service to others.
This makes the play a meaningful extension of the curriculum, offering students a chance to study the cultural, historical, and spiritual context of a life that has influenced the world.
The goal is not simply to dramatize events but to enter the worldview that shaped them — the values, inner motivations, and choices that defined the person being studied.
What stood out about the play was how seriously the children took their roles. They understood they were contributing to something the whole school was creating together.
Heather Taylor-Heik, Living Wisdom Parent
Psychologist at Stanford
Recent & Upcoming Productions
Martin Luther King 2026
Life of Buddah 2025
Harriet Tubman 2024
Directed by Rose Atwell
Rose Atwell brings many years of experience in theater and in the Living Wisdom School system. Her background includes college training in theater and hands-on mentorship with senior EFL educators.
Rose is known for her ability to understand what each child needs at any given moment. She pays close attention to developmental readiness and adjusts expectations so that students can take on challenges that feel steady and appropriate.
Her focus is on creating an environment where students feel safe, engaged, and interested in the meaning behind the story they are bringing to life.
