Family not reeeeeeally aboard

MichaelNKat
Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:45:34 +0000

It can be wearying to deal with this kind of reaction, especially from family members or others with whom you are close. You want everyone to share in your kid’s joy and excitement, not suck it out. My wife’s parents are like that; if you are not a lawyer or doctor, you don’t have a real profession. These reactions are so dopey though. The reality is that a BFA or BA in MT or theatre is just as legitimate as any other undergrad degree. Most people don’t have the foggiest idea of the type and level of work that is required in a theatre program. Reading plays, script analysis, researching the history and sociology of the time in which a play was written or in which it occurs, exploring the psyche of the characters, theatre history as a reflection of society and culture, learning how to be part of a team that brings complex work to fruition, developing the skills to communicate, dealing with the demands of 12-14 hour days - hardly what I would consider fluff. Add to it the multitude of skills obtained through the discipline and creativity required in a theatre program. A student who graduates with a degree in theatre is every bit as capable of moving on to further professional or graduate education, if that is what is desired, as any other liberal arts major. And majors in other liberal arts programs are certainly no more prepared for “life” than theatre majors.

Even more important, our theatre students have spent 4 years in college pursuing a passion that brings great joy and gratification. It’s a gift we give our children that they will own for the rest of their lives. When I see the light that beams from my daughter’s face when she is performing, when she talks about how happy she is with the education she is getting and her life, that’s all I need to know. Everything else, the future, will unfold with time as she pursues the paths to come with the confidence and sense of self that comes from what she is doing now. As to those who don’t “get it”, that’s their problem. And when necessary, I let them know it. :)