Every year, it seems as though we are being barraged with more and more films from big budget Hollywood. With ever-increasing quality and the use of world famous actors and actresses, people seem to flock to theaters more than ever before. The filmmakers and actors of the most successful movies are some of the richest people in the world. However, with all of this attention on films from the mainstream media, what has become of the original art, the place where all of these films got their start? Has theatre become a dying art?

Well, my answer is no.

There is still a huge following for live theatre. This is evident every time I step into a playhouse and see a full house. But why hasn’t this following faded, especially with all of these advancements in film?

There is no certain or clear answer to this question. It tends to be a mixture of things that is alluring to people. There are a variety of things about theatrical atmosphere that keep people coming back to the stage.

First and foremost are the physicalities of the theatre that set it apart from the screen. Sets are intricately built and staged. There is no useless piece of furniture or misplaced wall; each and every single thing serves a purpose. Each aspect of the set is painstakingly put together by someone who cares a lot about the production. The time, effort, and care that people put into the production is clearly evident just from that factor alone.

Along with the set work, there is also the factor of acting. Actors work extremely hard to keep the realistic and alive feeling that the story is supposed to be conveying. They practice for months upon months to bring their characters to life. They try as hard as they can to have a believable performance, and this effort shows. When a stage actor enters the theater, they become their character. They take on their persona and become who they are portraying. This makes a performance all the more believable. There is no mailing it in at a live performance - everyone must give their all.

This effort not only applies to the actors, but the pit as well. The musicians who work live shows are able to play music for hours at a time. Whether the pit is playing ambiance or a full-on show piece, they must be on their A-game to keep the audience engaged with what is happening on the stage. Music in a theater is like no other music. Hearing the instruments soar inside of a building built for acoustics just makes the listener experience the songs all the more.

With all of these elements combined - sets, actors, and music - the theatergoer really gets the experience of being there with the characters. You feel as though you are a part of the story, not just watching it unfold before your eye. This feeling of being there is amplified tenfold by the one thing that no film can ever provide. Actors provide a feeling of interactivity with the audience. Actors can run through the audience, or pull the audience onto the stage. They can talk with the viewers, sing with them, or dance with them. It provides an even deeper feeling of being involved and immersed into the show. Improv when things go wrong adds another level of ingenuity, effort, and humor to shows, and when improv is really good, the actor’s talent really shines. Improv and interactivity are things that you can never get out of films, and that is a huge allure of the art.

When the show finally ends, you can really see how impacted the viewers were. People flood to the stage door to meet the actors, show their praise, and get signatures. The atmosphere of the stage door is one of my favorite things about seeing live theatre. I love seeing how others view the show and what they thought of the performances. You get to see the show through other eyes and think about things from their perspective. It really is a unique and beautiful thing.

So, in the end, theatre isn’t dead. This is an art that is very much alive. Full houses, standing ovations, and emotional stage door greetings are more than enough to prove that. Community theatre and Broadway are both the same in that regard. Every show is an experience that needs to be seen and lived through. Once the show closes, there is no way to see that exact show again. However, those shows live with the viewer forever. That, ultimately, is what proves that theatre is still very much alive. With how much these shows stick with the viewers, it’s hard to believe that theatre will ever die.