The Next Amendment

An original musical drama by Charles Pascoe of the SWT Theatre Arts faculty, "The Next Amendment" joyously related the significance of the Bill of Rights. It was commissioned by SWT President Robert L. Hardesty to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution and to serve in its premier performances as the 1987 presentation of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Distin­guished Lecture Series.

Primarily a children's play, "The Next Amendment" had appeal for "children of all ages." Original songs and music, lively dialogue, and gaily costumed actors combined to present the story of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in an entertaining and good-humored way.

This production was an associate entry in the American College Theatre Festival. The aims of this national theatre education program are to identify and promote quality in college-level theatre production. It will also be performed next spring as SWT's Children's Theatre presentation for schools· throughout Central Texas.

Charles Pascoe was professor of theatre arts and director of children's theatre at SWT (now Texas State University). He earned a Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University and taught in universities in Georgia and Minnesota before coming to Southwest Texas in 1981. Dr. Pascoe was the author of a number of plays for children and their families. His "Backyard Story" swept the major awards at the American College Theatre Festival's area competition in 1983 and the following year represented the state of Texas at the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts in Virginia. Among his other plays are "Foxtales," "Emperor Toad," "Candlestein," and "Oracle of the Balcones." 

—Adapted from the original event program distributed at the production of "The Next Amendment"

“And as I thought, I seemed to hear my mentor, Lyndon Johnson the teacher and educator, as well as Lyndon Johnson the President, talking to me. He was always so interested in education, and I could almost hear him saying, ‘Don't limit this year's presentation to the university community. Find a way to share it with children. Why not turn the lecture presentation into an educational opportunity for the children of Central Texas, so they can learn about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the importance of these freedoms in their lives?’"