The Dos, Don’ts, and Benefits of Taking Children to the Theater
Much of the benefit of experiencing theatrical performances is what you and your child can learn from them. In terms of becoming “cultured,” plays explore a modicum of things: life experiences, morality, good and evil, reflections, and hope for (or fear of) the future. Beyond the content of the actual performance, going to the theater is a chance for children to see human error. Assaf believes it’s important for kids to see live humans making mistakes like a dancer tripping or seeing stage lighting change as a sensory experience. Seeing a live performance is an ocean’s width of difference from seeing it in its perfected glory at a movie theater or on TV. By Sarah Batrous Photo by Kleinpeter Photography
The performing arts are an integral part of human history. For hundreds of years, this is the medium used by our ancestors to tell stories, share history, and express their interpretations of the world around them. As a storytelling tool and as a way to explore historical context (both ancient and modern), it’s important to take children to the theater for a variety of reasons. But how does it benefit your child? And how do you explain the basic etiquette of attending? Dennis Assaf, the Founder and Artistic Director at Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS), weighs in with his expertise. Theater is an educational tool.
“I view the performing arts in various categories. Yes, it’s entertainment for sure, but it’s also education. It should also reflect life experiences– it’ll tell a story, and hopefully that story has an effect on the listener, the audience, in a positive way, hopefully or maybe in a constructive, uncomfortable way,” shares Assaf. When Assaf first started JPAS, they’d put on children’s concerts and serve thousands of children; now, it’s much less. Worryingly, kids today have very little exposure to performing arts, and people like Assaf depend on those students to get on the stage and be performers, and more importantly, be audience members.
20 AUGUST 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker