Why the hell do I love theatre so much?

This is an excerpt from the keynote speech given by Jacob Coakley, an Editor at Stage Directions, at the Texas Nonprofit Theatres' Annual Conference in 2010

"So why the hell do I love theatre so much? And how can I make you excited about theatre?...

Because when you’re onstage, everyone’s gonna love you.

Because theatre is still the best connection to whatever it is that makes us the best people we can be.

Because it’s open to anyone, anywhere, regardless of money, or where you come from, or anything else. If you want in, theatre wants you.

Because theatre has always given me more than I’ve given it. No matter what I’m doing for a show, or how much I’ve ever done for a show, I’ve always gotten more out of it than I’ve put in. And I’ve put in a lot. A lot. But somehow, I always walk off a production feeling as if I’M the one who got everything. How does this happen? It’s alchemy, it’s magic. It’s theatre.

So with all of this, how can you NOT be excited for theatre? How could you not love putting your heart and soul out there for this art form again, and again, and again?

Theatre is the most thrilling and rewarding of human endeavors. I’m honored to be a part of it, I’m honored I get to spend my time thinking about it, attending it, making it. And I’m honored you invited me here to share that passion with you. Thank you very much."

Read the entire speech.

"The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation."
                                   ~ Stella Adler

“An actor must never be afraid to make a fool of himself.” 

                           ~ Harvey Cocks

Love the art

“Love art in yourself, and not yourself in art.”
       ~ Konstantin Stanislavski
          My Life In Art

Why do we love theatre so much?

Broadway World asked its readers "Why do we love theatre so much?"

Read their answers...


Tazber said:

The first four notes of Gypsy

Because no one ever says what they mean in a Chekhov play

Because when Jennifer Holliday told me she wasn't going I knew she meant it

The first 15 seconds of A Chorus Line

Because there is no more emotionally shattering song than Could I Leave You....

....Except Another Winter in a Summer Town

Because seeing a Pirandello play is way more trippy than getting high

Because there really is no day but today

Because now I know people love you and tell you lies

Because of the way Bob Fosse moved

Because Yul Brynner really was Something Wonderful

Because who else but Patti could ever be Patti

Because Richard Kiley dared to dream the impossible dream

Because One Day More still stops my heart every time

Because when I was very young it taught me that I needed to find my very own corner of the sky

Because Mrs. Lovett still gives me nightmares

Because A New Brain helped me to go on when I thought I couldn't

Because Tom Stoppard doesn't worry whether or not people understand his work

"Ragtime" 

Join the NYC World Theatre Day Coalition

WORLD THEATRE DAY IS MARCH 27th

To become a member of the NYC World Theatre Day Coalition email info@nycwtd.com. All NYC WTD Coalition Members are asked to:

1. Send an Eblast to your patrons Wishing them a Happy World Theatre Day on March 27th or in the week leading up to March 27th. We will design the eBlast for you so all you will have to do is forward it along or if you already have a planned eBlast we will create something you can easily include in your already planned eblast.
2. Post a link to the NYC World Theatre Day website (www.nycwtd.com) on your website so your audience can find out about other ways to celebrate.
3. If you are in performances, read and/or distribute the International Theatre Institute’s World Theatre Day Message during your performances March 21st – 27th in a curtain speech or in the program. (NYCWTD Coalition will provide you with a Program Insert.)
4. The Theatre Communications Group has some suggestions on other ways you can participate.

In exchange for joining the Coalition, we will list and promote your organization on our website, in our tweets, and on all of our promotional materials. Last year, we had thousands of hits on our website and we distributed hundreds of flyers.