The history of the performing arts dates back to almost the beginning of humans. Ancient Greece and Egypt participated in festivals with shows and dances; these performances were considered the earliest forms of performing arts.
Jumping forward to the 1800s, the most popular form of live entertainment became shows performed on Vaudeville. Vaudeville was a mix of different performing arts, ranging from live music to full plays and magic shows. Although it started in the 1800s, Vaudeville reached its peak between the years of 1890 and 1912. It eventually fell out of favor with audiences’ interests shifting.
While Vaudeville began to die out, Hollywood and Broadway shows were rising in popularity and were producing more shows for live entertainment. This period became known as the “Theater Boom” Era in the U.S., which took place in the 1920s. Theater, especially Broadway, experienced major growth during this period. Considering all this history leading to the uprising of theater, one should consider the true importance of theater. Why is it important to audiences, and what is the importance of what goes on behind the scenes?
One thing that makes theater so important is its ability to teach others. It’s not just singing and dancing on a stage; the audience can learn about history from shows inspired by real-life events. One of the shows that does this is “Newsies,” which was inspired by the real-life Newsboys’ Strike of 1899, when newsboys Kid Blink and David Simons led a band of orphan and runaway children on a two-week-long action against newspaper publishers Pulitzer and Hearst. Others include “Annie Get Your Gun,” which tells the story of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, “1776,” which depicts the political debates and struggles of the Founding Fathers during the American Revolution, and perhaps one the most popular broadway shows, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s creation, “Hamilton,” is the musical focusing on the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton.
Keeping in mind that the audience can benefit from watching these performances, taking a look at what happens behind the scenes can open someone’s eyes to just how important theater is to some people. Not only does it help build community, the impact theater has on youth is incredible. Kids of all ages that participate in productions can find a home with their cast and crew. The art of theater helps kids with confidence building, teaches them about teamwork and communication, and helps them learn the skill of memorization. “Theater is important to me because it’s given me a chance to do what I really enjoy doing: creating stories and entertaining people,” teen actor Chloe Herdman states. “I get to understand different perspectives through playing different characters, and I can learn different things from my fellow actors.” Chloe has participated in several plays with theater programs throughout Sonoma County and theater has become a huge part of her life. “Theater gives me the ability to interact with my community in a way nothing else can,” she says.
One aspect behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed is the close connections directors share with their shows and the cast they have worked with. North Bay Theatrics (NBT) is a theater program that is located both in Marin County and in Cotati. Ashley Kimball runs the show at NBT, and she has done an amazing job at welcoming kids of all ages into the theater community. “I remember the very first child audition I ever heard, I remember where I was, what she looked like, and I actually just saw her a few weeks ago. It was in that audition that I realized that kids really can act, and can sing, and that I wanted so much to do with their success and making them feel confident enough to do that in front of an audience,” Kimball says. “For me in particular, something that could go unnoticed is how deeply connected and empathetic I feel with every single student and person that I work with.” Kimball has been directing for over 10 years and has enjoyed running the show, but she has much deeper connections to the art of theater and what she does. “I realize that it isn’t just a job for me, but something that is a part of me. If I can’t get to experience that creativity in some form or another every day, I’m just not myself.” She elaborates on the depth of theater’s importance as well, stating, “Telling people where to go and what to do is such a small part of it. The art of theatre is really a vehicle for me to show my love and acceptance of people in my own small way. Every person needs and deserves that.”
To truly understand how important theater is to our community and the people in it, you have to look at it from different perspectives. From the kids still learning to build their confidence to the amazing people trying to help them do so, theater and the performing arts can have an impact on anyone. It can teach you new things whether you’re in the audience or backstage. The bonds you make with your cast members will stay with you forever, and it can give you a home like no other.
