About 1,950 Fayette County students saw Galileo Galilei come to life on stage during an “edutainment” musical performance from the Pittsburgh CLO. “The Next Galileo” musical is part of the Pittsburgh CLO’s Gallery of Heroes series, which highlights the lives and accomplishments of significant historical figures through mini-musicals at local schools. A donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) brought the program to the Uniontown Area High School auditorium and covered transportation costs for the students.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
“We see students’ faces light up as they enter the auditorium and look around, clap at the end of songs, and raise their hands for a chance to ask the performers a question during the Q&A. When asked if this was anyone’s first time seeing a musical, a number of kids raised their hand,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
The performance followed a young student, Gabriella, as she journeys back in time to meet Galileo Galilei. Together, they experience the joy of scientific discovery and the importance of curiosity, from questioning Aristotle’s belief that the Earth was at the center of the universe to realizing that Galileo’s telescope could be used to see what was above Earth in the sky.
Students attended from Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Laurel Highlands, Uniontown, and St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School. Back in the classroom, teachers can use a guide provided by the Pittsburgh CLO to help students think about the themes and learnings from the performance.
This is the tenth year that Gallery of Heroes has come to the stage for Fayette County students, thanks to a generous donor at the community foundation who values bringing the arts to young people.
