To the editor:
This weekend in public, I overheard a young man say, "Why would anyone go see a bunch of college students in a play when you could go to the Lied Center and see the real thing?" This comment, combined with the recent announcement of the loss of KU summer theatre for the first time in 25 years, really struck a harsh chord.
I am an alum of the KU theatre program and employed as a high school theater teacher in a nearby town. The attitude that any attempt at theatre below a professional level isn't worth the time or money is extremely misguided, but unfortunately not uncommon. Although not every college or high school student in theatre goes on to become a professional in the arts, many students' lives have been enriched by their theatre experiences in ways that no other educational program could fulfill.
Several area high schools and colleges have theatre programs which are staffed by excellent teachers and fueled by enthusiastic students. As for educational theatre not being the "real thing," how do you suppose those professionals got their start? Some of the most compelling theatre I have seen in recent years has not been on the professional stage, where producers cater to the commercial whims of their audience.
The "real thing" is happening in high school and college auditoriums where students are given the opportunity to take risks that have much more than a monetary payoff. They are doing theatre because they truly enjoy it, and that communicates life and energy to an audience more so than a paycheck can. To paraphrase Shakespeare, love of theatre and "tongue-tied simplicity" speak greater volumes to an audience than the most celebrated or practiced performer.
Celebrate March as Theatre in Our Schools Month by supporting local educational theatre. Attend a performance or offer your time and talent as a volunteer.
Lisa Greenwood,
Lawrence
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