Theater Skills Pay Off in Life
Theater Skills Pay Off in Life
By Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President
(column for Iron County Today)
Projection and articulation are valuable skills that I learned by being in Cedar High School plays. When you are in a play you have to memorize lines and be confident on stage. We certainly had to learn to be flexible and adapt quickly because “stuff happens” in a play. Sometimes there is more drama in the drama than the audience can see.
One of the most interesting experiences of being in a play is trying to get inside a character’s head to portray their story. This teaches empathy. We could use more empathy in the world, as we try to understand each other.
It takes a certain amount of confidence to get onstage in front of an audience and this pays off for business meetings and parenting later in life. As a high school teacher in Texas I quickly realized that waffling on decisions did not work well with teenagers. Nuance is nice, but a direct authoritative answer gets attention and action.
Students who are involved onstage are part of a team and that builds collaborative skills. Developing the discipline to go through both the rehearsal and performing process teaches tenacity and time management. “You learn presence. You learn discipline. You learn empathy. You learn how to read a room and respond with intention,” said Darrion M. Narine.
“The truth is, theatre and performance have always been underestimated. Too often, people reduce it to acting, dancing, or singing, without recognizing the deeper value beneath the surface. What they fail to see is that performance trains people in some of the very skills that are most needed in the workplace and in leadership,” said Narine.
Fortunately there are numerous opportunities to get involved in theater in Cedar City. We also have the opportunity to enjoy the performances as audience members.
There are many learning opportunities for camps and workshops through the Utah Shakespeare Festival, IMPAC, and the Cedar City Children’s Musical Theatre. There are also strong drama programs in the local schools and at the university. Off the Cuff offers improv workshops as well as weekly comedy shows.
There are also many opportunities for the support teams that make the plays possible. USF brings in an army of professional staff, but the community groups rely on many volunteers to prepare for the productions and help the performances run smoothly.
Just a reminder that the applications for the RAP (Recreation, Arts, and Parks) Fund are due May 15. Late applications are not accepted. The application form and more information are on the Cedar City website at https://www.cedarcityut.gov/
The Cedar City Arts Council works to develop our arts community and we hope you will get involved, whether as an active participant or in the audience.
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