Hero: The Boy from Troy resources

In Hero: The Boy from Troy, Jayden is stuck in detention with a book about Congressman John Lewis. He’s soon taken on a musical journey through the decades that shows how the heroes in the Civil Rights movement inspired young John Lewis to protest injustice and get into ‘good trouble.

As a boy, John Lewis dreams of being a preacher who can help others. While he doesn’t have a congregation yet, he does have a loyal group of singing chickens who listen to him as he finds his voice. On a harrowing road trip through the South, John’s eyes and mind are opened to the injustices of segregation and racism, inspiring him to take action. As John meets Rosa Parks and Dr. King and ultimately becomes a leader and American hero, Jayden learns how he, too, can take a stand.

Hero: The Boy from Troy was written by Nambi E. Kelley with music and lyrics by Joe Plummer. The production was directed by Daniel Carlton and produced by First Woman. First Woman is a full-service production company that develops and produces projects for television, film, stage, and work for young audiences. Founder Nambi E. Kelley is an award-winning playwright, actress, and screenwriter.

ABOUT THE NJPAC ON THE MIC PODCAST

NJPAC On the Mic invites your students to expand their experience of attending a SchoolTime Performances show. We provide three podcast episodes for each production, suitably aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and New Jersey Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies. With NJPAC on the Mic, the learning begins before—and continues beyond—your visit to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center!

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Episode: ABOUT (5 minutes)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for an introduction to the performance, the artist or company, and the venue.

Episode: CONNECT (8 minutes)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for reflection questions, a closer look at an aspect of the performance such as historical context or background on the art form, and a brief selection of vocabulary words.

Episode: SPOTLIGHT (10 minutes)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for an exclusive interview with an artist from the production or an NJPAC staff member followed by discussion prompts.