Annie the Musical actress in front of scenic projection backdrop

What is at the Heart of Theatre? | Video

This week on Behind the Curtain, we talk to Atlanta-based artistic director Amanda Farnsworth. Amanda discusses the heart of theatre, as well as why it endures in a world filled with every kind of media and entertainment

Video Length: 1:51 (1 minute, 51 seconds)

QUESTION: “What is at the heart of theatre?”

AMANDA: “In my experience, the heart of theatre is human experience. It’s, we all go through stuff, and we all want to see that other people go through it too. We want to know that we’re not the only ones. That’s why people shell out hundreds, in some cases thousands of dollars, a ticket and sit in a dark room and watch people sing and dance around. We want to know that our experience, while it is unique, we’re not the only ones going through what we’re going through.

It’s a way to process, it’s a way to understand. It’s a way to get some things out that you need to let go of, that you’re feeling. It’s a way to be soothed, to be comforted. There are so many incredible things about theatre, but I think the heart of it is that it speaks to all people. Because it is by people, stories about people, from people—that’s what makes it work. That’s what makes it beat. That’s why it’s still alive!

When we have every form of movie, television. We can watch it on any device that we own. We can watch TV on our phone, which we have with us every minute of every day. We can watch movies anytime we want. But people still go to the theatre. To me there’s something powerful about a connection of people sitting in the audience and someone standing on a stage and telling a story that resonates with the person in the audience. It’s human. It’s a human connection.”