Opinion: Who or What Will Save the Performing Arts

My wife and I do theater reviews and attend over 45 live shows some at the east end theaters. I have now been doing reviews for over a decade. I watched live theater survive Covid and emerge with standing ovations all over the east end and up island too. I congratulate all those whose passion is live theater.

That includes actors, directors, producers, sponsors, crew and volunteers. I watch folks give their all under the theater lights. I always stand and applaud their efforts. However, I have this observation. I fear for the future of theater because I just don’t see the future generations enthusiastically supporting the live performing arts. Perhaps they rather stay at home and destroy, conquer and kill via the latest high-tech video games.

The internet has brought a huge volume of entertainment platforms into individual homes. For a nominal fee one can be entertained on ones favorite chair in ones favorite room in ones home having ones favorite snacks delivered right to them.

Attending the shows I watch my generation (I am 71) continuing to support live theater by showing up. What I don’t see are groups of young folks in clusters anywhere in the theaters. I have watched artistic directors attempt progressive programming to try to ride the wave of change but I am not sure that it is working. I can only ring the bell to say heads up.

Paul Simon wrote sarcastically in a song in the mid 1960’s , “Is the theater really dead?” It wasn’t perhaps it will never die. William Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage!” I guess now every computer is a theater.