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Sophia Messervy
Jessica Harrell
English IV Honors
November 7, 2014
The Impact of Theatre
If youve ever gone to see a play, you saw the cast leave themselves behind and
completely reinvent themselves as someone else. But have you ever thought about when those
actors first started learning about theatre? How they first felt about theatre and how it impacted
their lives. Everyone experiences their theatre education differently. Basic theatre education
impacts the lives of middle and high school students by helping them become more confident,
more social and outgoing, and by helping them improve academically.
Most middle and high school students take their first drama class in school, but most
people do not see the impact that their theatre education has on their school and academic
careers. In the article Theatre Education Associated with Higher Academic Achievement by
Marcie Granahan, it illustrates that schools that have arts-integrated program are reaching higher
academic achievement. There have been studies that show that students that are involved in
drama programs have improved reading comprehension, better attendance records, and are more
involved in their academics. Even with all these improvements, drama programs are being cut
out of school curriculum. The Department of Education has reported a 16% cut in elementary
schools, and a 3% cut in middle and high schools. These cuts are being made because of
underfunding, and theatre programs are in danger because of funding shortfalls. Marcie
Granahan makes the point that theatre education has the power to improve academic
achievement, raise SAT scores, and overall, improves students high school experience.

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The most important part of any theatre class is how the student feels, and how it affects
their lives away from the stage. The survey Theatre Education Survey by Sophia Messervy,
was given to three high school drama one classes, taught by Ms. Laura Meyer. The survey
consisted of nine questions, ranging from what level of theatre they were in, to how they
personally felt about their education. The three main questions asked if theyve felt more
confident, more social or outgoing, and if theyve developed better bonding skills. Out of the 75
surveys given that day, 54 answered yes to all three of these questions, and only 21 answered at
least one of the questions with a no. On a scale of one to ten, the students were then asked to
measure how much more confident, social or outgoing they felt, and how much better they
believed their bonding skills were. Out of the 54 that answered yes to all three questions, 44
answered with above a six for all three questions and no one answered below a two for any
question. The students were also asked how they believed their education in theatre has impacted
their lives and many of them wrote about how it has improved their reading skills and helped
them learn new things that they were able to take into their academic careers. The survey further
proved the point that theatre education can impact students lives by making them more
comfortable in social settings and helping them learn skills to take into their academic education.
Theatre has the power to let people completely change themselves and play a character
while also being able to reflect on their own lives through this experience. Theatre has the power
to humanize others and really make them think, feel, and understand someone they might not
have been able to before. But the actors you watch on the stage werent always the people they
portray on the stage. They once had to learn the basics of drama and have their lives completely
changed by their love and passion for the theatre. Basic theatre education impacts the lives of

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middle and high school students by helping them become more confident, more social and
outgoing, and by helping them improve academically.