Students in Theater

Elise White is a senior in high school and she has been very involved in theater for a long time. I was able to ask Elise some questions about theater and mental health and she gave some very insightful answers! Our interview started with me asking when and why she started performing. She started her 5th grade year with the musical that year because she always was singing and wanted to do it for others to enjoy as well as learn about acting on stage. She thinks theater helps mental health because it is an escape for most to get away from bad situations at home or just the real world in general. It becomes an outlet for many who do it and she has personally experienced the positive impact of theater. She says mental health affects everyone and theatre has allowed her to pour out her feelings in a positive way. In the same sense, some people journal or exercise to relieve all their emotions, but Elise sings and acts. Elise is passionate about theater because she says that when you take on a persona, you experience different things you wouldn’t experience in the real world: different stereotypes the character might be put in to, different situations they have to deal with, or even different emotions you’ve never had before. Theatre allows you to walk in someone else’s shoes, and she believes it makes you more sensitive and understanding about those around you. When asked about budget cuts, she says that they are absolutely unacceptable and that theater and music kids are the ones who have the most dedication and hard-working spirits. She says they are found to be the ones with the best grades and taking away theatre would be almost like taking away someone’s therapy or outlet. Elise added that she believes that theater has shaped some of the most beautiful, understanding people. It creates a family with people you would’ve never known or been friends with and it teaches students how to work hard and practice for something that will turn out beautiful in the end. It teaches real life lessons, and it prepares people for the real world. 

I have two quotes from other students that show the benefits of theater. Laine Henry is more often on stage crew and she had some things to say when I asked if she had anything to say in regards to theater and mental health. Laine said “The family that is crew. Especially when you go through tragedy, they are a family. Theater is so entertaining and brings you relationships with so many people. Being in rough mental spots is somewhere I’ve been multiple times and my family and my crew family have always been safe spaces. We are there for each other and understand each other’s feelings and emotions. Not to mention our fantastic dance moves, cooking/baking skills, and insanely hilarious inside jokes. My stage family has kept me sane and quite literally been first responders to tragedy in my life. I treasure them with all of my heart.”

The other student is Riley Tolbert. When she saw the question “How does theater impact mental health?” she said the following : “Hi I was never in theatre myself but I watched one of my best friends recover from an eating disorder she had been battling for years by getting involved. She became a different person in the most beautiful way!! The once insecure and hurting girl became this incredible person who just beamed with happiness. When she was on stage, or just in the practice room with all of her people, she truly came alive for her, theater literally saved her”