Theatre Majors-A Question

[barkley]

just curious-what is the attitude among you and your fellow theatre students about participating in community theatre productions?

reason i ask is because when i got my degree (many years ago) weather we as students were planning on going professional or not, we were encouraged to participate in community theatre productions as a means to get experience in a variety of types of productions, and to work with other actors/directors with a wide variety of skills/experiences. it seems now (at least where i am currently living, and in the region i used to live in) that college students have taken the position that community theatre is 'beneath' them and not worthy of their participation. this honestly saddens and bewilders me. when i look, for example, at the production i am currently participating in (and we would have killed to cast at least a couple of college age students) there was the opportunity for a studying actor to work with individuals with incredible professional training and expertese.

is this attitude common among college theatre majors-if so, can you explain the reasoning? is it something that just seems to be the 'norm' or is it actualy spoken to and supported by faculty?

 

[futreWDI]

I am a theatre major at West Virginia University (BFA Theatre Design and Technology). The local community theatre community (quite redundant) is rather small but students here audition and help out with them whenever we have the time. We also try to attend the shows. It is hard for all of us as students to participate in the community theatre because our schedules are crazy but we do it when we can. It stinks that it is not the same by you. Community theatre is awesome.

 

[Rora]

I graduate as a theater major this year. I went to a middle school for the arts and a high school for the arts, both times I majored in Theatre. The entire time I was encouraged and LOVED to participate in community theatre. As soon as I hit college, it seemed no one wanted to be involved with comm theatre because it was 'beneath' them. Professors made no effort to encourage us to go. However, there are a few dedicated people that still attend and participate in community shows. Anyone who wont do it because it's 'beneath them' obviously must not love their art if they don't jump at ANY AND EVERY opportunity to perform/tech/etc even if it's at something like a silly children's show. They need to get their priorities straightened out and focus on what it is to be an artist.

 

[Dee/Belle]

I think that community theatre is very good for college aged kids. I am in college and I really don't like the director of the shows here, so I don't do them. I am DYING to get back into a show but none of the 5 community theatres around me have roles for people under 30. It is very depressing. I feel like in community theatre you learn more. Yeah, you have more responsibility but you aren't just focused on what YOU are doing. You get to work in close promiximity to others and help out with lighting, sound, etc. when you get a chance. I think college kids feel community theatre is below them because we have a more modern idea of what acting styles to use. I am stuck to the "classic" methods of acting and not much of this mumbo jumbo that people are coming up with today. College kids hear "community theatre" and I think they get scared because it's dealing more with the community and a diverse audience that maybe they aren't ready to work with. There are a lot of stereotypes that are attached to community theatre (sometimes they are true) and kids can't get past that.

 

[CowboyCO]

I was both a music and theater major in college. I am now a working , married dad of 42, but in my opinion of performing over the years--

Take advantage of every opportunity you can to get on stage and work on your craft. Yes, some community theaters are hokey, but look at what they are doing with a critical eye and take advantage of the good situations.

And don't be condescending to community theater no matter how hokey it is. They are doing what they are doing for the same reason you are -- Because they LOVE IT!