Shaw Avenue Elementary School students immersed themselves in cultures and holiday traditions from across the globe on Dec. 20 with the help of the Bright Star Touring Theatre’s production of “Holidays Around the World.” Two performances took place throughout the day for students to enjoy. 

Aligning with the district’s theme this year, “Show Your Character,” the show focused on character Nick, played by Steven Gebhardt and Joy, played by Sarah Catherine Carter and their quest to make it home for the holidays. Principal Alejandro Rivera kicked off the performances by speaking to students about the importance of understanding how others live. 

“As you started to learn already in school and as you’ll learn in life, no matter our religion, no matter our ethnicity, no matter what we celebrate, having a real sense of the world around us helps us better understand the life experiences of those that we associate with,” he said. “Having an appreciation for what is out there in the world will only make all of us better people.”

The engaging performances walked students through Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, Diwali, the Chinese New Year and more. Student volunteers also assisted in the production, dressing like Saint Lucia for St. Lucia’s Day and helping maneuver a colorful dragon for the Chinese New Year. At the conclusion of the performances, the actors took questions from the students which ranged from how they got their start in the acting world and what holidays they personally celebrate.