By Aubrey Schultz, Treasure Valley Children’s Theater
Theater has been the source of my most profound life lessons. I can pinpoint certain cherished skills, values, and perspectives that stem from my theatrical background. While many of these moments happened on stage, during a rehearsal, or in a classroom, some of my most memorable “a-ha” moments happen from the audience, in the car listening to a favorite Broadway soundtrack, or as I reflect on an observed piece of theater. The ten lessons theater taught me (so far):
1. There’s more than meets the eye
Theater has taught me about the complexity of life. I’ve never been the type of person that is quick to judge or make an assumption, and I credit that to my experiences breaking down scripts, analyzing characters, and discovering the world of complexity that exists behind what might at first seem rather simple.
2. Human beings are extremely complex
Theater is all about studying the human experience. In my time portraying a variety of different characters, I discovered how dynamic and complicated we truly are. It’s so much easier to empathize with people and give them the benefit of the doubt when you understand the level of complexity that comes with having our own unique backgrounds, upbringings, perspectives, and experiences.
3. Comparison is the thief of joy
The audition process can be grueling. Learning how to manage disappointment and work through those big feelings was imperative in my journey to self acceptance. It didn’t take me long to realize that comparing myself to others only resulted in darkness and feelings of discouragement. Theater taught me the value of simply being the best version of myself.
4. My ideas and perspectives matter, and so do yours
I really love that theater celebrates uniqueness and diversity. Starting at a young age, theater made me feel so empowered! Collaboration and teamwork are such vital elements of theater, and with each unique perspective comes new ideas and incredible potential.
5. Collaboration is a beautiful and powerful thing
With the knowledge that each person has something unique and personal to contribute comes great power! As humans, we are so much stronger and more capable when we share our thoughts and work together. Some of the most amazing theatrical projects I have ever been a part of were a result of total collaboration and teamwork. Now, as an adult, this lesson has allowed me to connect with others and contribute to a team.
6. Hard work pays off, one way or another
It’s no secret that putting on a show takes a lot of commitment and hard work. But there is nothing quite like the feeling on the opening night of a show, reflecting on the previous months of hard work and sacrifice, knowing that it paid off. As I cycled through shows all throughout my youth, it was consistently proven that working really hard towards something is so incredibly valuable and rewarding.
7. To everything there is a purpose, and it’s the purpose you assign to it
When studying a script or a character, we are taught to analyze everything; whether it be the season a story takes place in, the outfits a character wears, or the childhood experiences that shaped a character as an adult. By assigning purpose to these simple and possibly even mundane details, we can better understand and portray a character. I’ve learned that assigning purpose to things in my own life can help me to better understand the person I am today and appreciate my own journey.
8. Authenticity is the bridge to vulnerability
One of the most profound things I have learned from theater is the value of authenticity. First, I should mention that I have also learned that it takes a LOT of courage to consistently show up as your authentic self. It’s not always easy to allow others to see us as who we truly are. But when we lead and interact with authenticity, we open the door to vulnerability, and only then can we experience theater in its richest form.
9. Vulnerability is the bridge to human connection
Theater is all about the human experience and human connection. I once read, “Theatre is life. It should be called lifeology because it is the study of how to live.” And I couldn’t agree more! Being vulnerable can be really hard. I learned early on that shared vulnerability within a group of people can result in the most amazing, authentic, beautiful connections.
10. Time spent in self-reflection is never wasted
Anyone who has experience with theater can tell you that we spend a LOT of time reflecting, particularly about ourselves. Through each and every moment of self-reflection, I connected dots and made realizations that immensely contributed to my sense of self and overall perspective of the world. I really love that theater provides people with a place where they can feel free to discover and express themselves with likeminded people.
Being a “Theater Kid” is one of the proudest titles I have ever proclaimed. Not only has theater been one of the biggest sources of joy in my life since I was a young girl, but it has shaped the person I am today. Looking back on my childhood, I can confidently say that my participation in theater and the arts brought out the best in me.
Now, as a theater arts educator, I get to witness the transformational power of the arts through my students. It is incredibly rewarding to be the facilitator of experiences that shape young people and allow them the same knowledge, skills, perspectives, and lessons that theater education provided me. Not only that, but my own journey as a student gets to live on as I continue to grow and learn from my theater students.
