Technically, I am an introvert. I enjoy spending time alone, and when I am surrounded by others for long stretches of time, I become easily fatigued and always need to follow up with alone time to recharge. An Uncle once referred to me as “Garbo,” as in Greta Garbo – the silent movie actress, because he rarely heard me speak. When I was about 4 or 5, I once told someone who asked me if I had any brothers and sisters that I was a “very lonely child” instead of an only child. Growing up, I either spent my time alone in my room acting out movies I’d seen or practicing my gymnastic floor routines. I was always performing, but never for a real audience.
I suppose this is why my parents initially flinched at the idea of me auditioning for a high school play. They had never seen me crafting dramatic Oscar acceptance speeches in the mirror. When I was cast in my first sizeable role in high school, my whole family finally saw my passion for acting, so no one was surprised when I applied to theatre programs when it came time to decide on college.
Many people who perform are some version of stereotypical extroverted actor-types, but throughout my acting experience I’ve come across more people like me who shine on stage but who’d rather be alone reading scripts when they’re off of it. Though I gave up my dreams of being an Oscar or Tony-winning actress long ago, I have come to appreciate my theatrical experiences in shaping who I am today as an adult. Because of this appreciation, I have attempted to open my children’s eyes to the magic of theatre in the hopes that they will gain from the tremendous lessons it offers.
Why My Children Participate In Theatre
Teamwork is at the heart of every production, no matter the size. When you’re an actor on stage, you must rely on your team of fellow actors to convey the story to the audience. Whether your role is one that is on stage or behind it, each person contributing to the performance is an important piece of a whole. Each contributor is giving something in order for the end result to be successful. Participating in theatre gave me the understanding of how to function as a cog in a machine, which has translated to being an effective team member in work and all of my volunteer projects.
When you tell someone’s story on stage, you have the chance to literally walk in their shoes, which allows the actor to gain a sense of empathy for that character’s life or situation. Obviously, playing a part isn’t the same as having an experience in a real-life setting. However, most of us don’t get the chance to take ourselves out of our own lives and enter another’s. Acting provides a unique opportunity to do that, if even just temporarily. I asked my best friend, Kristen (who is finishing up a Ph.D. in theatre) why she encourages her children to participate in theatre, and she wisely had this to say, “In my opinion, our world is in a crisis right now in terms of lack of empathy, or even attempting to empathize with others and to try to understand another person’s point of view. Watching – or especially participating in – theatre exposes kids to other worldviews.”
The ability to speak clearly in front of a group is invaluable skill. Throughout high school, college, graduate school and my work, I’ve had to give many presentations and speeches. I can definitely thank theatre for giving me the confidence to speak in front of others and for teaching me how to project my voice, speak at an appropriate speed, and feel comfortable conveying ideas to an audience. My son has been acting for many years through school and some classes at a local community theatre, and I can absolutely see that his presentation skills are more polished than some of his classmates.
Creativity is under-appreciated in today’s educational model due in part to mandated teaching standards at many schools. The arts are often the first things to be removed from curriculum to make way for budget cuts or standardized testing needs. Children without imaginations grow up to become adults who are inflexible, frustrated by change, and unable to expand the horizons of their minds. This is where we as a society collectively lose when we don’t include art in the lives of children.
