Part 2: Community Basics

In the video above, acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch explains his credentials when commenting on how theater provides an incredibly immersive experience to all participants of the community. This experience can be shared by anyone who chooses to become a part of it, regardless of feeling if “it’s for you” or not.

As young people, we are constantly discovering who we are and where we belong, and sometimes, it feels like it takes forever to find it. Editors Dominic Symonds and Taylor Millie analyze the musical A Chorus Line in connection to how all walks of people in this community thrive. They state, “A Chorus Line both in its narrative and in its structure creates a balanced tension through which both individuality and conformity are maintained.” Essentially, blending in doesn’t necessarily exist when it comes to theater. This quote emphasizes how theater is a place where individuality can contribute to a collective art form, which helps newcomers understand that who they is the upmost value in this community.

In a more general perspective, they claim,“ Despite the requirement for conformity to styles, techniques, and methods, performers rely on originality and individuality to express character and to achieve unique performances of song and dance.” Even though there’s structure in theater, personal voice and creativity are essential power tools when collaborating in this community. The editors emphasize how you don’t have to give up who you are to belong, but rather that your uniqueness is what strengthens the ensemble.