For a long time I contemplated being a theater major. I have done theater for along time and had my senior work in high school be performed on a Broadway stage! I have such a love for the theater, both the technical aspects and the performance aspects. However, when I spoke to people about it, I would get similar response:
"You should make money."
"You're never gonna make money."
"You shouldn't strive to be a waitress."
Like don't get me wrong, I understand the concern, but there are so many better ways to voice concern than like that. Also, people assume that if you want to do theater, you want to act.
INCORRECT
There's so much more to theater than acting. There's directing, stage managing, light board operation, costumes, sound, props. SO MUCH MORE THAN ACTING.
So when people say they want to go into theater, they could very well mean they want to be part of the technical aspects of it and trust me, there's is a lot of money in that and there is a need for more tech people.
People argue that theater isn't important and many schools have cut their arts programs because it's seen as unnecessary.
INCORRECT AGAIN!
The arts is something that is VERY needed in schools. It promotes creativity and allows students to express themselves. Theater, as discussed in a previous article, can be used as therapy. There's so many things a student can learn from theater-- like how to have a good public speaking voice or how to literally put yourself in someone else's shoes-- but they won't get the chance to if it is cut from school programs.
I've met most of my friends in theater and have created what I believe to be, long lasting friendships. Theater teaches you a level of professionalism that can be used in a variety of fields. Don't discourage creativity and hinder someones' experiences because you don't find it useful.
Honestly, I'm tired of people making me feel bad for a choice I almost made. I am not a theater major, primarily for the fact that I let people talk me out of it. Don't try to make my friends feel bad because this is something they're passionate about and they want to pursue it.
If you feel that theater and the arts overall are unimportant, then please do me a favor and:
-never watch a movie or television show again
-never listen to a song again
-never see a Broadway show again
-never look at artwork every again.
Because guess what? Those were created by people who were into theater and the arts!
The arts are needed, the arts are important!
