Dramatic inspiration
Sebastian Lewis looked slightly uncomfortable last Wednesday. But what teenager wouldn't be, dressed in a top hat and tails?
The junior at Codman Academy in Dorchester was in character for his latest role: Abraham Lincoln. As the Senate president and the speaker of the House sat behind him, he launched into the Gettysburg Address.
The Legislature was honoring Lincoln on his birthday. It was a rather dull affair, mostly because Lincoln spent only a few days of his life in the Bay State, campaigning for a friend. One lawmaker recited the Second Inaugural Address, then it was time for the most famous speech in American history.
Lewis had arrived on Beacon Hill with a cheering section, classmates from school. They stood out in the House chamber, which is seldom full of restless teenagers.
He was picked to serve as Lincoln's historical reenactor partly because he's tall and lanky - there the resemblance ends - and mostly because his teachers believed he could handle the pressure of performing in a potentially intimidating setting, in front of people who give speeches every day.
The day before, he said he was only slightly nervous. "Somebody told me that nerves are good for you. So yeah, I've been nervous."
He said he has struggled a bit with the language, but had found a distinctly contemporary way into his role. "You just have to memorize it and really be a motivational speaker about it," he said. "Because it was about motivating people to keep fighting."
Dozens of lawmakers were on hand, and gave him a well-deserved standing ovation. I hope they spent some time thinking about the fact that he attends a charter school, an issue state lawmakers have been maddeningly indecisive about supporting.
Lewis, who is 19, has found a passion as a drama student. His resume includes "Romeo and Juliet," a "Midsummer Night's Dream," and "The Tempest."
This has come about because of an unusual partnership between Codman Academy and the Huntington Theatre Company.
It was the brainchild of Meg Campbell, Codman's inspired principal. The school operates inside the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester. Some wouldn't consider the setup ideal, but it works.
From the time the school opened, Campbell was determined to build an arts program, even though many public high schools have sharply cut or curtailed them.
She approached the Huntington eight years ago and said, "I want my students to come here once a week." The Huntington officials thought the idea was probably unworkable, but were intrigued enough to try it. Now, 160 of Codman's students, mostly ninth- and 10th-graders, are studying theater with professionals. Some study opera after that.
The point is not just to introduce them to Shakespeare. The school is hoping to expose them to the world beyond their neighborhoods. The connection has become a win-win for the school and the theater company.
"We believe we impart the skill of self-confidence," said Donna Glick, the Huntington's director of education. "You have to take risks. You learn about responsibility."
Lewis discovered drama as a ninth-grader. "He has finesse," said Lynne Johnson of the Huntington. "He's mature beyond his years."
After the speech, he accepted congratulations from politicians The House clerk then took him into a private area off the chamber where the Gettysburg Address hangs on the wall. There was one error in the posted version, which Lewis had no trouble spotting when challenged.
Lewis said he plans to attend college. He hasn't decided whether to pursue drama, though his teachers have encouraged him to go for it. It isn't his only passion. "I'm a big soccer fan."
Adrian Walker is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at walker@globe.com. 
