Student Blog: Blossoming Art: The Importance of Theatre of All Kinds

Summer is almost here, and art is blossoming everywhere. One thing that I have been absolutely loving this spring is all of the art that is growing all around me. 

I have had the absolute privilege to attend many student works over the last few months. What a glorious thing student-led productions are - we have the future of movies, TV shows, Broadway, museum exhibits, and more all around campus. Currently there is a workshop for a student led musical at my school - I mean how cool is that?! 

I have found that student-led productions often leave a lasting impression on me. They are pieces of art that keep me questioning everything which is a beautiful thing as I like to be challenged through art. I also feel student works are special because they are often made by students for students, giving them a great opportunity for advocacy among their peers. 

I also completely adore attending high school and junior performances! These shows are filled with casts and crews fostering their love for the art I’ve come to love which is a special thing to watch. I find that young people tend to leave it all out on the stage and try new things even more than actors in college and beyond. There is this special sense of playfulness that can only be achieved with actors in high schools and children’s theaters since it isn’t professional and doesn’t necessarily have the pressure to be perfect. When I see these performances I am reminded why I fell in love with performing in the first place. 

I also was reminded of why I fell in love with performing at the senior showcase here on campus this week. There was a moment where a senior was doing a monologue while sitting on an actor block on stage. And that was it, just a man with an actor block and a monologue, yet, the audience was entranced. All 300-some audience members sat and watched one person on stage. There is so much power in that. In a world full of horrible news, the thing that will stitch the world back together is the power of connection, and that is exactly what I felt in that moment. Connection. A moment where everyone was intertwined. We all were sitting watching the same performance and nothing else mattered. 

Supporting the arts will always be special to me as it is my livelihood, but I also believe it has the power to change the world - it heals. So, if you needed a sign to attend a community theatre show, student-led production, or a youth performance, let this be it! Maybe even challenge yourself by attending a show you don’t think you’d like - I find those are the performances I learn the most from. Most art comes with a message, and maybe the message in the art you’ve been avoiding is just the message you needed to hear. But no matter what you see, the important thing is that you are there.