The art and science of systemic wellness in Black communities: Qualitative evaluation of a multimodal theatrical production

Background: Edutainment has long been used as a strategy in health promotion and public health wellness interventions. In March 2019, a large US southeastern university hosted a multimodal theatrical production entitled From Colored to Black (FCTB). The play used a historical lens to broadly address social determinants of health such as disparities in education, access to health services, fair housing and health outcomes. This creative intervention was intended to encourage progressive, justice-oriented attitudes about historically disenfranchised Black communities in North Central Florida. Methods: Driven by an arts-based education approach and constructs from narrative transportation theory, the study employed directed qualitative content analysis to evaluate audience commentary and examine how a play on historic health inequities in Black communities could activate cognition, emotion and imagination for critical thinking about present-day wellbeing. Results: Qualitative survey data in response to the artistic presentation revealed the following subthemes: fascination, assumed truthfulness, satisfaction, feelings of inspiration, enthusiasm, negative attitudes, hopelessness and emotional disconnect. Conclusions: Edutainment continues to be a strong intervention tool. Feedback indicates audience members experienced both highly immersive moments and low transportation-inducing points that ultimately influenced critical reflection on some of the themes addressed in the play.