Perhaps it's the days you spend binging your comfort show on Netflix, the two hours of doom-scrolling on TikTok before you fall asleep, or the weekends you bring friends to your local movie theater to appreciate the newest blockbuster movie. As teenagers, we live in an age where entertainment is consumed through digital screens.
As accessible, convenient, and entertaining as online content can be, I propose an alternative use of your free time: enjoying a good old-fashioned live theater performance.
It's true that for many teenagers, live theater feels out of reach or lacking in relevance to their daily lives. Exposure to the theater can be limited between school productions and the occasional field trip. On top of that, the ticket-buying process can feel more cumbersome compared to the ease of digital streaming.
However, dismissing theater as irrelevant would be a mistake. Live performance holds a unique power and significance every person should experience.
Theater cultivates human connection, empathy, and understanding. When watching a show live, the fleeting nature of performance creates an undeniable energy and immediacy you don't get while watching something on the screen. Actors and dancers are performing in front of you; for you, they're creating something they can't recreate, a performance only you can experience. It's just you, the performers, the audience, and the story.
You're watching a curated and edited product when watching a movie or a TV show. There are no bloopers or mistakes; the best takes are sliced together, music is timed to the exact second, and special effects are digitally added to create the most realistic effect. On the other hand, live performance is a two-way street. Art is about emotion, connection, and relatability—mistakes are embraced—and performance is about creating a safe, shared space.
Something notable that many don't realize is that the actors on stage are reacting to the audience just as much as the audience is reacting to the performance. The dynamic between actors and audiences is similar to that of a push and pull – every applause, laugh, and cheer contributes to a performance. As an audience member, you leave a production truly feeling like you've shared emotions and connected through a meaningful experience with those around you.
Additionally, live theater is a powerful platform for expanding your perspectives and deepening your learning. There's truly something for everyone in the world of theater, especially for the teenage audience: Whether you're rehashing your 10th-grade humanities classes watching The Great Gatsby, Hamilton, or you're dabbling in the dystopian world of Be More Chill, each production has the power to transport you to a new world neatly constructed and put together, inviting you to grapple with complex ideas – all while you're enjoying spectacular ballads and choreography, of course.
Now, you might be thinking: How do I get to see a show? Aren't they expensive? Don't I have to go all the way to Broadway?
Here's the best part: there is a chance that live theater is all around you.
A common misconception is that live theater is only for the elite and that great productions are only in New York/ Broadway, but this is simply not true.
Local, regional, and community theater companies generally host high-quality productions for a fraction of the cost, and universities or colleges with a performing arts department generally host good-quality productions at a more affordable price. Many high schools also have productions that are fun to watch – these are all great and accessible options for an enjoyable experience.
In addition to watching a captivating performance, watching live theater also allows you to support local businesses, performers, and technicians. In doing so, you actively nurture arts and culture within your community.
The next time you have a night out, choose an entertainment option that allows you to be fully present with the people around you rather than isolate yourself from a screen.
A quick Google search will tell you what shows are performing nearby, and once you experience the magic, I guarantee that you will keep coming back for more.
