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Theater is a necessary art form that has helped humans express, discover, and understand themselves and their relationship with the world for millions of years, in even the earliest civilizations. In recent years, however, many modern communities have come to trivialize the arts. Theater is faced with remarkable challenges in today's digitally evolving society. The inexpensive, convenient entertainment value of movies, television, and crowd-sourced videos such as YouTube are now vying with the stage for the audience's limited attention. Statistics from 2009 and 2010 showed that the average Broadway audience member was about 48 years old. With this knowledge, drawing the interest of a generation raised in a digital landscape may seem like an insurmountable challenge. But how can today's more critical audiences benefit from theater? Is it still a relevant art from? Are there any applicable skills that can be parlayed from the stage into real life success? Below is a list of reasons that performing arts can improve your general well being. Character building Just watching a performance can help children and adults alike learn to put things into perspective and express themselves in a healthy manner. Furthermore, involvement in theater has also been shown to improve listening and communication skills, self-esteem, and self-concept, all of which contribute to self-empowerment. Thinking fast Anything can happen when you're in front of an audience. This includes missed lines and wardrobe or prop malfunctions. Actors and others who participate in stage shows learn how to focus and think quickly on their feet to improvise a situation, all while maintaining their cool. Drama in education Studies show that the performance of a story helps students understand the work more thoroughly. It also helps them develop a better understanding of language and expression in general. In addition, performing arts help maintain social and language skills of students with learning disabilities and remedial readers. Reports from The College Entrance Examination Board also show that students involved in theater activities outperformed their peers on SAT exams. Creative minds Drama promotes creative thinking and the development of the imagination, giving us the power to make (or shape) the world around us. Often, creative people become leaders or entrepreneurs that improve our society. Communication through transcendence Exposing yourself to historical events, or the stories of other cultures and traditions requires the courage to test the boundaries of your own comfort zones. Doing so often will eventually cause you to build a level of respect for varying experiences or point of views, however different they may be from your own. The human condition Good actors know that the key to an authentic portrayal is knowing their characters inside out. This can be gleaned from observation, or better yet, detailed introspection. Empathy is a skill that can be used in most any situation that deals with people, whether it's helping you better understand a frustrated customer, or sizing up a new client. The unifying element Any time there is a performance, hundreds of people gather in one place for a few hours to share one event and experience emotions that may run the gamut from funny to thought-provoking. This is a valuable aspect in an era where most of our communication, even in the same room, happens electronically. In East Brunswick, theater lovers rely on this great resource: http://www.statetheatrenj.org.
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