BWW Blog: Christopher Panella - Theater: Coming to a Community Near You!

In my short absence from BroadwayWorld, I spent my time interacting with my community, meeting new people and having new conversations. These conversations focused on local and school theater. From parents to teenagers to elementary students, I met people who expressed their excitement about South Florida's rich theater community, but also their worry about the uncertainty of that rich theater community. Every year a budget cut occurs, the arts are the first item on the chopping block. While South Florida is a strong theater hub, many communities across the nation aren't as certain. These communities exist in a state of chance, which is an awful environment for developing arts education and promoting creativity for all ages. Thus, I present a well-thought plan that you, YES YOU, can use to bring theater to your community and keep it there.

Theater is craft few understand but all appreciate. The best way to improve that understanding is to improve theater. In your community, you can create performance groups, coordinate with school systems, and collaborate with theater companies. If your community lacks youth theater, then you can start a drama/performance club at your school. The best part about starting a club is that you get to set precedents for that organization on and off campus. As a drama club, you can produce musicals and plays at your school (the rights to shows are expensive, but many nonprofits offer free plays and you can always write your own!), perform off-campus (holiday caroling!), and perform skits for your peers (example: a bullying seminar could always use a bullying skit!). These many seem minimal, but trust me: theater is what you make of it.

If you're looking to be more community-oriented, performance groups are perfect. Put on your researcher hat and find venues and events; from singing the National Anthem at a breakfast to jazz songs at a retirement dinner, performance groups can do anything. The best part about being a community performer is the impact you make. Your performance could inspire a kid in the audience to start their theater career. The recognition of performing across your community can get your group more events, which will only help to establish theater as a principle. This process would be much easier with the help of an adult or a group of adults well-established in the field. Thankfully, many theater companies and arts centers exist across the nation. A simple phone call could give you the door you need to make your group the best group in town.

The best part about theater is bringing theater to others. If you have a passion for theater and for helping others, then establish a theater community service project! It's pretty simple: you can establish it at your school or a community center. Invite kids across the community, from elementary to middle to high schools, and put them through workshops, talent shows, cold reads, and skits! Start the trend of theater in your community with community involvement. I guarantee no one will be disappointed.

Thus, I complete my plan. This plan can be yours, but you need a few things: detail, dedication, and passion. Adapt this plan to your community and whatever its theater situation might be. Stick to the plan you make and the groups you start. Last of all, love what you do.