03/13/2014
I love live theatre! I enjoy the whole experience that goes with it. How to enjoy live theatre: First, plan in advance what you are going to see and where. (Check out the Harris Center program guide, for a start) Choose what date and time you will be seeing the live performance. Secure a campion to attend with you (it is always better with others) and then purchase the tickets. The tickets will either be sent to you or you can pick them up at the box office on the date of the show. The exciting evening comes. Make plans to eat dinner somewhere prior to the experience or decide to go somewhere afterwards. Dress up fancy or a bit nicer then you would going to the grocery store. Next, meet up with your theatre campion, eat dinner, go to the space, pick up the tickets and then saunter into the theatre. You are guided to your seats by ushers and handed a program with information about the theatrical production. I enjoy this next part almost as much as seeing the live theatre production; I watch the theatre fill with equally excited people ready to be launched into a world of interesting characters, story and perhaps music. Everyone talking lively and taking their seats, reading the program and then..... the lights dim, the orchestra hits the first note and the audience is silenced and we take off into darkness like the ride,Space Mountain at Disney Land.
I recently attended the production of “Bring It On” at the Harris Center, Three Stages at Folsom Lake College. This production was a traveling broadway production. I was not excited about seeing this actual musical because it was not what I would call a traditional theatrical production. It is a musical created from the movie of the same name. I grew up listening to and singing along with the great musicals like, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Hair”, “Hello Dolly”, so a musical about High School cheerleaders would not have been my first choice. I could not pass up the opportunity because as I stated, “I love live theatre”.
I enjoyed every moment of it from the planning, meeting up with my friend, arriving at the beautiful facility, (Three Stages), to being ushered to my seat. Then my favorite part...watching the audience fill with not only mature people but Teens, Tweens, college and middle aged viewers. Seeing this variety was unusual. Other productions I have attended I would have been the youngest person in the audience and I am almost 50. This made this performance even more exciting. The lights lowered and BAM, the show started with as much power as you get at a high school rally for the home coming game. The quality of this production was outstanding. The talent and the stage production was professional quality. At intermission, I flipped through the program guide and marveled at all the other entertainment offerings the Harris Center will be providing. I am planning my new theatrical experiences now. There are so many I want to see I think I might have to take out a loan.
I have been worried that “live theatre” will not survive, because the average age that attends will be dying off, soon. If you have never gone to a live performance, I hope this article will give you some courage to go. If you love it, like I do, please return and bring others of all ages. There is a sense of community and imagination that only live theatre can give. See a variety of options, not only the ones you know. It can bring new energy into your life. With my pom-poms in the air, I yell, “I love live theatre!” See you at the Harris Center soon.
