The Power of Drama in a Classical Education And Why You Need To See Hillcrest’s “Little Women” Performance

In classical education, we know that stories shape us. We read them, discuss them, and analyze their themes, but something remarkable happens when we step inside them. When students act out great stories through drama, they don’t just study literature; they live it. They embody the conflict, express the emotions, and work through resolution in a way that deeply forms their minds and hearts.

This weekend, Hillcrest Academy’s drama program will bring Little Women to life on stage, and in doing so, they will do more than entertain. They will practice the powerful work of stepping into a story, wrestling with its conflicts, and walking toward resolution. This makes drama vital in classical education. It moves beyond intellectual understanding into embodied learning. And this makes it so powerful for students growing in wisdom, maturity, and faith.

Drama and the Heart of Storytelling

Every great story is marked by tension and resolution. We see this in literature, history, and ultimately in the law-gospel truth that underlies ultimate reality. Inside Hillcrest’s drama program, students don’t just memorize lines; they step into the characters’ struggles, learning to inhabit their perspectives. This process helps them internalize truth in ways that discussion alone cannot.

For students wrestling with personal challenges and questions about identity, family, or faith, acting through a story can be profoundly healing. Drama requires students to express emotions they may otherwise hold back, giving them the chance to work through complex themes in a safe and redemptive way.

Little Women is a perfect example of this. The story of the March sisters is one of love, loss, ambition, and sacrifice. It explores the tension between personal dreams and family duty, the ache of growing up, and the grief of losing loved ones. These themes are real for our students; as they act them out, they do more than perform. Students experience, process, and grow through the story.

Conflict and Resolution in Little Women

The heart of Little Women lies in its conflicts: Jo’s struggle between independence and belonging, Amy’s desire for recognition, Meg’s tension between ambition and contentment, and Beth’s quiet suffering. Each sister faces a different challenge, and through their stories, we see the beauty of perseverance, love, and redemption.

At Hillcrest, our students don’t just act these parts. Our students are living into the process of resolution. As they bring the characters to life, they develop empathy, deepen their understanding of human nature, and grow in their own faith. Through the power of drama, they learn that resolution is not always easy, but it is always possible.

And isn’t that the heart of God in the Gospel? Christ steps into the brokenness of our world, engages with our conflict, and leads us to redemption. Drama mirrors this greater reality, reminding us that we are all part of a story being worked out toward the ultimate redemption and restoration.

More Than a Show—A Journey of Growth

This weekend, when the curtain rises on Little Women, it will be more than a performance. It will showcase students maturing before our eyes, wrestling with deep themes, expressing real emotion, and growing in their faith. It will be an invitation to witness what makes a classical education unique: the opportunity to step into stories, embody truth and practice the art of resolution.

We invite you to join us for this special event. Come and see our students engage in a story that speaks to the human experience, and in doing so, watch them grow in wisdom, depth, and faith. Because, in the end, drama is more than acting; it’s an opportunity to practice the work Jesus does in us daily.

Click the link below to see dates and times of the performances this weekend, and order your tickets today.