AT25: An Eye on the Future
Kyle Jarrow, playwright and composer, New York City
Sometimes I worry that there is no future for the theatre. I go to shows, look at the audience, and see few people my age (29) or younger. It's not all that surprising. Too often the subject matter, the high ticket prices and the style of presentation don't resonate with a younger generation.
But before I despair, I think about two things:
1. High school
2. Rock concerts
These things give me hope for the next 25 years of the theatre.
1. High school: I hated high school as much as anyone. But the good news is, many high schools around the country have theatre programs—and these serve as a gateway drug into the arts. Students carry these experiences with them long after graduation, fueling an interest in theatre later in life. High school theatre programs don't have to be limited to doing yet another production of Guys and Dolls, either. They offer an opportunity to show students the diverse scope of what the art form can be—regardless of whether those students end up as artists or audience members later in life.
2. Rock concerts: People in my generation, including myself, go to many more rock concerts than plays. I think this is because rock shows provide a greater immediacy and intensity of interaction between audience and performer. Plus they're often raucous, loosely structured, spontaneous, and they don't take themselves too seriously. (Not to mention the fact that you can usually drink at them!) The theatre would do well to harness some of this energy. I'm not saying every theatre piece should be a rock musical or De La Guarda, but bringing some of that rock-and-roll ethos to the stage—as increasing numbers of writers and directors are doing in straight plays, musicals and more avant-garde theatre work—is a great thing. After all, life itself is raucous, loosely structured and spontaneous. And we'd all do well to take ourselves a little less seriously.
So, in conclusion, what I'm saying is: High school theatre programs + immediacy of interaction between audience and performers + raucousness + rock-and-roll energy + not taking yourself too seriously + a more diverse range of subject matter = getting younger audiences into seats = a pretty bright future for the theatre.
And, come to think of it, serving drinks might not hurt, either.