By David Karas | Correspondent

Most high school students have some formal introduction to the works of William Shakespeare in class, but not all of them get to follow up that reading with a trip to see a Shakespeare-inspired Broadway play.

Students of Christine Mattsson in Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, took part in a recent field trip to New York to see “Something Rotten,” a play based on the works of Shakespeare – in particular, Hamlet.

“They had just finished reading the play in class, and it’s a great connection to the curriculum,” said Mattsson. “’Something Rotten’ is a musical comedy, and speaks to how Shakespeare’s most famous play was created.  There are numerous quotes and references to Hamlet, as well as quotes from Shakespeare’s Sonnets.”

The trip was part of an annual tradition carried on by Mattsson and her colleague, Bob Sonday, who together run several trips to Broadway each year to expose their students to live theater.

“I was born and raised in Queens, NY, so going to the theater was something I’ve done my entire life,” shared Mattsson, who teaches junior British Literature and Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, and has been at Donovan Catholic for 21 years. “When I moved to New Jersey and started teaching at Donovan Catholic, I was determined to bring my love of theater to all of my new students, some who had never been to NYC before.”

“Something Rotten” officially opened April 22 on Broadway, according to Playbill, and the pilot centers on two brothers desperate to craft a hit play to follow in the footsteps of Shakespeare.

Co-stars Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Legally Blonde, Little Me, “Smash”) and Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek, Next to Normal, Titanic, “Smash”) portray the theatrical adversaries in the production, which is packed with musical theatre references.

Mattsson said that the students enjoyed their Broadway experience.

“They were able to catch all of the Hamlet references and in some cases, seeing the show helped with their comprehension of the text,” she said. “Students learned that there are many ways to view something; a text can be brought to life thanks to theater.”

She continued, “No two mediums are the same, so the students were able to interpret things differently by seeing the show rather than just reading the text.  It gave them a new perspective on Hamlet.”

Senior Elizabeth Spernal said that seeing the play “made Shakespeare’s masterpiece more fun and exciting.”

“The music was great and the actors were so talented,” she commented. “I’m truly obsessed!”

Fellow senior Jaycee Blair agreed that the play brought the words they read in class to life.

“It took William Shakespeare out of the classroom and made Hamlet a real-life experience,” said Blair. “It made me realize what a love I have for Shakespeare.”

Mattsson said that, given the feedback she has received over time, she hopes to continue the annual tradition.

“It was a truly positive experience,” she said, adding that the Broadway excursion is not the only field trip she organizes. “I also take my AP students to the Metropolitan Opera House once a year, usually to see Verdi’s ‘Otello,’ based on Shakespeare’s ‘Othello.’”

She added, “It is another way of looking at things, and the kids love it.”