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Friday, April 27, 2018
Parkland Survivors Get a Broadway Master Class in Healing
The New York Times: On a Tuesday evening in a small theater in the back of a shopping center here, the teenage cast of the rock musical “Spring Awakening” pogoed around the stage, shouting the unprintable lyrics from one of its most ferocious songs.
4 comments:
Peter Kelly
said...
I’m glad that no one blew this up into a wildly huge thing. Even the article has a very reverent air around it. It feels like I’m watching from the sidelines, perfectly content to be there and not in the middle of the action. I personally am of the belief that theater helps to cure and heal wounds over time. Whether you are watching a show, or participating on or behind stage, I feel that theater helps to clear thoughts, and bring catharsis to even the worst of times. I can’t begin to imagine what it feels like to be in their position right now. I’m thrilled to see these actors and actresses give their support to these wonderful people in such a pure way. The bond between artists in theater can transcend even the most incredible circumstances. I hope that this experience of being able to talk with each other both parties involved learned something about who they are.
I think it’s really amazing how supportive and quick the theater community is to coming together and trying to help heal. This country is going through so much devastation and loss. I think it is important for us to lean on the arts and the expression of our emotions to tackle what we are feeling and learn how to co exist with this sadness. I think it can also help create solutions to the societal problems we are having today. On a side note, I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have your broadway idols come to see yourself perform the roles they once starred in. As inspirational as it sounds it also sounds incredibly nerve racking. I think it is important, especially in light of the context of Spring Awakening, that this older generation of famous actors comes forth to talk and help the younger generation. That is the kind of improvement and help we should see more often.
As the article mentioned, I strongly believe that theatre can be a place for healing and catharsis, especially in the case of a wounded community. Because theatre can be one of the most healing art forms, I’m very glad that the cast of Spring Awakening chose to stand in solidarity with the Parkland survivor students. The themes of Spring Awakening, including a younger generation let down by its older one, is tragically real and timely in the wake of school shootings in America. However, I’m also glad that this particular event of the cast performing Spring Awakening was not largely publicized, as the town had so many events and fundraisers after the tragedy that they had to request for them to stop. I truly hope the cast of Spring Awakening was successful in helping Parkland survivors heal and come together after the shooting, and opening up an avenue for theatre to be a bigger part of the healing process for communities country-wide.
This story is a great example of how the arts can be infused into social activism to make a difference. Not only is it important for the cast members to demonstrate that they are allies to the cause of fighting for justice for victims of gun violence, but it is a great experience for the survivors to learn about the arts from some of the best in the business. Aspiring thespians like Cameron Kasky, who has been one of the most vocal of all students, can really learn a lot from the cast of Spring Awakening to help them learn how to perform this show better. This is a great opportunity for the students and the cast members to be allies in the fight against gun violence, and create a meaningful and impactful work that will truly begin a conversation about serious issues, including both those in Spring Awakening, and the horrible tragedies that the parkland students faced and continue to face.
4 comments:
I’m glad that no one blew this up into a wildly huge thing. Even the article has a very reverent air around it. It feels like I’m watching from the sidelines, perfectly content to be there and not in the middle of the action. I personally am of the belief that theater helps to cure and heal wounds over time. Whether you are watching a show, or participating on or behind stage, I feel that theater helps to clear thoughts, and bring catharsis to even the worst of times. I can’t begin to imagine what it feels like to be in their position right now. I’m thrilled to see these actors and actresses give their support to these wonderful people in such a pure way. The bond between artists in theater can transcend even the most incredible circumstances. I hope that this experience of being able to talk with each other both parties involved learned something about who they are.
I think it’s really amazing how supportive and quick the theater community is to coming together and trying to help heal. This country is going through so much devastation and loss. I think it is important for us to lean on the arts and the expression of our emotions to tackle what we are feeling and learn how to co exist with this sadness. I think it can also help create solutions to the societal problems we are having today. On a side note, I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have your broadway idols come to see yourself perform the roles they once starred in. As inspirational as it sounds it also sounds incredibly nerve racking. I think it is important, especially in light of the context of Spring Awakening, that this older generation of famous actors comes forth to talk and help the younger generation. That is the kind of improvement and help we should see more often.
As the article mentioned, I strongly believe that theatre can be a place for healing and catharsis, especially in the case of a wounded community. Because theatre can be one of the most healing art forms, I’m very glad that the cast of Spring Awakening chose to stand in solidarity with the Parkland survivor students. The themes of Spring Awakening, including a younger generation let down by its older one, is tragically real and timely in the wake of school shootings in America. However, I’m also glad that this particular event of the cast performing Spring Awakening was not largely publicized, as the town had so many events and fundraisers after the tragedy that they had to request for them to stop. I truly hope the cast of Spring Awakening was successful in helping Parkland survivors heal and come together after the shooting, and opening up an avenue for theatre to be a bigger part of the healing process for communities country-wide.
This story is a great example of how the arts can be infused into social activism to make a difference. Not only is it important for the cast members to demonstrate that they are allies to the cause of fighting for justice for victims of gun violence, but it is a great experience for the survivors to learn about the arts from some of the best in the business. Aspiring thespians like Cameron Kasky, who has been one of the most vocal of all students, can really learn a lot from the cast of Spring Awakening to help them learn how to perform this show better. This is a great opportunity for the students and the cast members to be allies in the fight against gun violence, and create a meaningful and impactful work that will truly begin a conversation about serious issues, including both those in Spring Awakening, and the horrible tragedies that the parkland students faced and continue to face.
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