Category: Uncategorized

When it comes to theater, it’s something that many value in some form. It’s a form of expression, a medium to represent topics that are hard to touch upon. When actors are on a stage, the audience sees them as not just an actor, but a representation of something. To me, theater is an important medium to express emotion. That brings me to one simple quote: “Theater is important because it touches the human soul.”

This quote may seem simple on the surface, but there are many layers that lay beneath this. When it means the ‘human soul’, it refers to the emotions we feel. Whether it be learning to empathize with others, or understand the situation of another, theater can remind us of the highs and lows that come with our humanity. Love, tragedy, all sorts of things can be expressed to us on stage. In our lives, we feel all sorts of things. There can be good days, where it seems like everything is looking up and that the world can do no wrong. However, the lows can come just as quickly, whether it be through a rough family situation or a breakup of sorts. Through the happy and sad moments of our lives, we turn to different ways to cope, even if it won’t fix anything. Theater, and many other forms of art, are things we go to in order to capture that feeling, to know that in some capacity, we are not alone in a situation, and that art expresses the same emotions that we currently feel. Through a theatrical lens, we’re able to experience the journey of a character, whether it be realistic or not. It’s why some people tend to resonate with certain characters in plays, film, and many other mediums due to the fact that their journeys were able to strike a chord in the viewer.

Theater is an art form that cannot be ignored. Even in the present era of society, theater has managed to stay relevant, and arguably, more popular than ever before. With theater being blown even more into the mainstream than it already is, it begs the question. Why does theater matter so much, and why are we able to connect to it?

While I’m not an expert when it comes to theater, one thing I know for sure is the current pandemic’s impact of the medium. Theater, a practice that thrives off of a live, auditory experience, was heavily impacted by the pandemic. Seeing a play or musical in real time was considered essential when witnessing theater, not just to those in the audience, but to those who acted out the story itself. Just like other forms of literature, theater is a field of expression. You can project all kinds of different emotions and subjects onto paper, but unlike other forms of literature, theater is unique in its performative nature. 

Actors are able to get into the character’s shoes, portraying people that, depending on the subject or nature of the story, can connect to the audience on many different levels. It can be an outlet to be represented—to tell the stories of those who are oppressed and misrepresented in society. The stories being told on stage and being brought to life by a variety of actors can connect with the audience and stick with them. 

According to an article from Psychology Today, live theatrical performances can engage sensory in the human body, not just from a visual aspect. It can engage our thinking, and our perception of how one speaks and acts. Most importantly, when watching these sorts of stories, it encourages the way we feel empathy. Empathy is a sacred emotion, used to build our relationships with family, friends, and others, and when we learn to deepen this emotion, it will make us more understanding of the situations people face in the world around us.

Overall, theater matters because it helps define what makes us human. Along with introducing us to the stories of others, it encourages us to realize and empathize with their struggles. Experiencing the emotions of characters through the stage could help us become a little more human, even if the characters are nothing but fiction.

I’ve never considered myself an avid theater fanatic. While my twin sister was indulging in each musical that had gained traction, singing Hamilton songs when the musical was at its peak in popularity, I was just sitting back, trying to ignore it. Back then, I wasn’t exactly a fan of musicals. Maybe it was because I was easily annoyed by how often it was talked about, but it wasn’t something that initially piqued my interest. I could definitely see the appeal, but during that time, I couldn’t really see the whole picture.

 Fast forward to the end of last year, a few months before the pandemic turned our lives upside down. It had come to my attention that my mom was planning for us to see a performance at the Kennedy Center. It wasn’t just any performance though, but rather a performance of the Aladdin musical. Mind you, this was the first legitimate musical I was seeing. My sister was very excited, as she’d seen a live musical before on a field trip with her choir class. I was curious to see it for myself, as it was not just my first, but besides my twin sister, this was the first time any of us had gone to see a live musical. Going into the performance, while I wasn’t as excited as the others, I was curious. Most of what I knew about musicals was just the musical aspect, the music to me was what defined my original thoughts on theater. 

However, after the musical had come to its end, it was then that my perspective of theater had changed. Even though most of my theater experiences have been from a musical perspective, it was from that moment that I really began to appreciate the art form within itself. Theater to me isn’t just people on a stage, or a bunch of songs either. Theater is a form of expression. I could only describe it as a storybook that’s sprung to life, taking the characters and emotions buried in a script to life, and making others admire these stories. Even though theater is in a tough spot due to the recent pandemic, that does not mean it’s been erased. It is an art form that has stood the test of time, and to me, is a love letter to our freedom of expression.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!