Student Blog: Spring Goal: Become a Better Audience Member!

It’s finally spring! Here at the University of Michigan, classes are officially over, which means I can finally enjoy the warm weather and savor some final moments with friends before we all leave for summer break. For me, like many others, spring is a time for resetting, personal reflection, and goal making. After my busy school year filled with all things theatre, I am reflecting on my moments of pride as well as interrogating areas I can improve in as a theatremaker and consumer. One area I have identified is: Being a more astute audience member. 

Over the past two years, I had the opportunity to see many shows; some I worked on, others not. In my springtime reflections, I have noticed how experienced some of these shows on “autopilot,” not fully retaining the emotion and messages meant to be transmitted on to me as an audience member. 

As I have increasingly sought to transform audiences with the shows I personally produce and continue to learn about the potential power of theatre through my classes, I have realized how, in order for the transformative work of this medium to be realized, a tuned-in audience is key. I want to strive to be this type of observer.

I fully came to the realization that my active audience skills needed to be honed after producing Twelve Angry Jurors this spring with student theatre group, Rude Mechanicals. As an associate producer, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing the show move through each step of the process, from casting to the final bow. Watching the director work with the cast on every moment, fine tuning each movement and line of dialogue, I began to realize how much of this specificity I might miss within other shows if I am not an active and discerning audience member. As I saw each live performance, I realized how many small moments of blocking or line delivery added to the overall performance and the impact of messages transmitted to the audience. Realizing how important this was to me as a viewer, I found myself wanting to bring this hyper focused eye into each performance I see going forward.

While there is nothing wrong with simple, indifferent enjoyment of a performance, I want to challenge myself to find ways to actively engage with the content I am viewing. A critical lesson I have learned from my own producing experience is that, if I am not tuned in to the small details, it’s impossible to fully grasp the messages and concepts put forth by the director. Enjoying and learning from a show are two connected but different processes; I want to challenge myself to combine these experiences, finding pleasure in both.

I’m so glad for this springtime season introspection, and am excited to expand on this goal for myself in the remaining year. Another, more general goal I have for myself is to see more theatre overall; I look forward to being able to realize this goal with all the incredible theatre I will have the opportunity to see at UMich and beyond. Going into these performances, I plan to bring a new perspective as a truly focused audience member, paying close attention to even the smallest details in order to receive the full impact of the pieces. I also challenge you, reader, to reflect and make a similar goal for the remainder of the year. By tuning in with an even slightly sharper eye to the theatre you experience, you may find yourself gaining a richer understanding of the performances you experience, heightening your theatrical experiences beyond simple enjoyment.