Thursday, June 30, 2016
Spotlight on BOUNCE: The Basketball Opera
NEA: Even though it’s been more than a decade, Grethe Barrett Holby vividly recalls reading Walter Dean Myers with her son. Myers, an award-winning, middle-grade author known for his gritty urban realism, often wrote about basketball, including in his novels Hoops and Slam. “I was blown away by the fact that this wasn't just about basketball, it was about life and life lessons,” said Holby. “I immediately started seeing this as an opera piece.”
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2 comments:
Opera, theater, dance, etc. are all meant to be art forms of the people. While progress is certainly being made, it is important to remember that theater is supposed to be an accessible art form. Audience members should be able to find characters who they can identify with, and material that is able to be understood by the average theatergoer. Like in BOUNCE, it is great to see shows that share life lessons and experiences that many types of people can relate to. Using music that is not traditional to the art form has proven to be a great way to draw in otherwise uninterested audiences. Sometimes all it takes is one little bit of interesting information to get someone hooked. Shows like BOUNCE, that tell important stories, also serve as an innovative way to capture the minds of young people. Introducing seemingly untouchable art forms at an early age is a great way to teach lessons and influence the lives of the audience.
I am not sure why, but I find this a very strange concept. In my head, basketball and theater, especially opera, do not mix. Still, I think that the concept is so cool. The article talks a lot about how BOUNCE: A Basketball Musical, is exposing more young people to the theater by giving them a relatable topic. That is what I like most about the idea. The reason that theater is often for adults is because the topics are things that they can relate to, and the music isn’t what is popular and hip. The theater is a great place for children to learn, experience and grow, but it is hard to get them interested. By traveling, it is also making the performance more accessible. I like that idea, personally, and I think that it will make a difference in the lives of many children.
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