Why Theatre?

DID YOU KNOW ...

Students involved in drama performance coursework or experience outscored non-arts students on the SAT by an average of 96 points?

• Drama activities improve reading comprehension, and both verbal and non-verbal communication skills?

• Drama helps to improve school attendance and reduce high school dropout rates?

• Drama can improve skills and academic performance in children and youth with learning disabilities?

Most Importantly for the students of Prince of Peace Christian School

Theatre students develop a large number of highly valuable skills that make them valuable employees for any job. 

• 1. Theatre classes give them the broad vision that all liberal arts students are supposed to acquire in college;

  2. Theatre's special hands-on, learn-by-doing environment gives them training, experience and skills that can be valuable in any number of careers.

Oral Communication Skills

Many students find that theatre helps them develop the confidence that's essential to speaking clearly, lucidly, and thoughtfully.

Acting onstage teaches you how to…

• be comfortable speaking in front of large audiences

Working on crews teaches you …

• that clear, precise, and well-organized oral communications are best. 

Oral communication skills are so important to some employers that they often send management trainees to special workshops.  You already have an advantage.

Creative Problem Solving Abilities

Tech theatre work:

• building scenery, hanging lights, making props, running the show, and so on--is a particularly good way to learn how to think on your feet, to identify problems, evaluate a range of possible solutions, and figure out what to do. 

The same is true of almost every aspect of theatre: Directing,  Design,  Acting,  Playwriting,  Management,  And more.

Most major companies believe that a creative problem-solver will become a good employee.  That's you .

Motivation and Commitment

Being involved in theatre productions and classes demands commitment and motivation. These are qualities that professors and bosses want in their candidates

Willingness to Work Cooperatively

Your work in theatre companies teaches you how to work effectively with different types of people--often very different types! 

• Theatre demands that participants work together cooperatively for the production to succeed and that it’s important that each individual supports the others involved.  Employers will be pleased to know that you understand how to be a team player.

Initiative

Personnel managers call people who approach work with initiative and enterprise "self-starters," people who do what needs to be done without waiting to be asked, without needing to be told. 

• The complexities of a theatrical production demand individuals who are willing to voluntarily undertake any task that needs to be done in order for the production to succeed. 

Promptness and Respect for Deadlines

Tardiness is never acceptable in theatre because it shows a lack of self-discipline, and more importantly, a lack of consideration for others.  Being late for a rehearsal or a work call or failing to finish an assigned task on time damages a production and adversely affects the work of many other people. Theatre demands that you learn to arrive on time and meet scheduled deadlines. 

Respect for Colleagues

In theatre you discover that a successful production requires contributions from everybody who's involved.  Mutual respect is essential.  Working on a production teaches us to respect and trust the abilities and talents of our colleagues.  A prospective employer will appreciate the fact that you have learned the importance of respecting your co-workers.

Adaptability and Flexibility

Theatre students must be adaptable and flexible. You need to be willing to try new ideas, accept new challenges, and have the ability to adapt to constantly changing situations and conditions. In one production you may be a member of the prop crew; in the next perhaps you're in charge of makeup, publicity or the box office; in a third production you might have a leading role. 

Leadership Skills

As a theatre student, you have many opportunities to assume leadership roles.  You may, for example, assist a director or designer and lead other volunteers, serve as a crew chief, or even design or direct a production yourself.  In the nurturing environment of theatre, faculty help you learn from mistakes so you become a better leader.  Leadership training like this can open the possibility for comparable opportunities in a company that hires you. 

Concentration

Busy theatre students, involved in a production or other theatre projects while also taking a heavy academic load, must learn to concentrate if they are to succeed. 

Acceptance of Disappointment and Ability to Bounce Back

Theatre people learn to deal with dashed hopes and rejection on a regular basis.  Who hasn't failed to get a role he or she really wanted or a coveted spot on a tech crew?  You learn to accept that kind of disappointment and move on.  You try again.  Employers need workers who are resilient enough to bounce back from this kind of frustration.

Theatre arts is core curriculum

State and national law name theatre and all of the arts as core curriculum and part of a basic education. All students should receive regular, explicit, and sequential drama classes starting in preschool, and continuing every year until the end of elementary school. Theatre education can be provided by a combination of certified theatre teachers and community theatre artists and organizations. Classes should be conducted during the regular school day with the administrative and budgetary support needed for long-term success. In secondary schools (grades 6-12), all students should have an equal opportunity to take a variety of theatre classes and participate in school productions. Theatre should not be reduced to afterschool, weekends, and summer classes that can only be taken by those who can afford to pay for them. Theatre arts class should be available to all students at all grade levels. 

- Drama Works! Teaching System 

Articles to read:

"10 Ways Being a Theatre Major Prepared Me For Success" - https://tomvanderwell.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/10-ways-being-a-theatre-major-prepared-me-for-success/

"Advantages of A Theatre Major" - http://www.wabash.edu/academics/theater/advantages

"The Effects of Theatre Education" - http://www.aate.com/?page=effects