The Power of Theater as a Communication Tool in the New Year
The start of a new year is a time for reflection, fresh goals, and meaningful connections. As we look ahead to 2025, one powerful way to foster connection and growth is through theater. As a storytelling and collaborative art form, theater is not just entertainment—it’s a transformative communication tool for students and communities alike. By fostering empathy, creativity, and collaboration, theater equips us with skills that are more vital than ever in today’s interconnected world.
Theater as a Universal Language
Theater transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, connecting people through shared human experiences. Theaters are a safe place to experience unfamiliar emotions and process stories different from our own. Just as a good book can carry you away and have a profound impact on your outlook, so too can a good experience in the theater.
Whether it’s the joy of laughter or the poignancy of loss, stories told on stage resonate universally. Characters and emotions serve as bridges, helping audiences see the world from new perspectives.
It can be difficult in our current artistic climate to have the strength to tell difficult stories. A recent example comes to mind. A friend was considering the production Once on this Island. Told as a story within a story, this musical gives an excellent opportunity to explore history, economy, class, and ethnic identity. I have done this show several times, and each director has had a different take on the presentation and which themes to focus on for their community. One chose to highlight the folklore, another the recovery from natural disaster, yet another the history shared between oppressor and oppressed. All of those elements exist in the show, but what you communicate to your audience is up to you. The conversations around all of these productions were illuminating, both for artistic staff and audience alike.
Teaching Communication Skills Through Theater
Theater sharpens both verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Students learn to project their voices, refine body language, and express emotions authentically. Scripts are a solid tool for teaching students appropriate behaviors, the implication of consequences, and the value of participating in positive interaction. Like the fairy tales used to keep children from wandering into the woods or climbing under strange bridges, they allow the exploration of emotions without risking actual life and limb.
Staging a play teaches a whole host of valuable communication skills students will need later in life. Listening, compromise, problem solving, and teamwork—skills essential for effective communication in any setting. Theater at young ages allows students to build these skills in a “practice” setting, while being entertained and educated. They won’t even know they’re learning, they’ll be having too much fun.
Building Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Portraying diverse characters allows students to step into others’ shoes, fostering empathy, again in a safe and controlled environment where the risks are low. The biggest resistance I have heard from students in class is “I don’t know how”. There is a tremendous fear of failure, fear of looking stupid in front of others, and fear of the new that grips our current 7-12 grade students. Through theater and character development exercises, they learn to navigate complex emotions and understand different viewpoints. Theater is about breaking down those fears to tell a great story.
Theater as a Tool for Community Engagement
Community-focused plays spark dialogue on social issues while bringing people together. When we brought Next to Normal to our community, we included a talk back after the show with local mental health professionals. The conversations were so illuminating! At its best, theater creates support networks among students, educators, and community members. It strengthens bonds through shared creative efforts and lived experiences.
A New Year, A New Stage
As we set goals for 2025, schools and communities should integrate theater into their strategies for community cohesion and growth. The ripple effects—enhanced communication skills, stronger empathy, and deeper connections—can be transformational for everyone involved..
Theater prepares us to communicate with clarity, empathy, and creativity. Let’s make 2025 the year we amplify voices through this powerful medium. Make 2025 The Year of The Stage!
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Want to read more?
How Theater Bridges Cultural Divides
The Role of Theater in Education
Using Theater for Social Change
The Science of Empathy Through Art
