I read an interesting article in the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS today (see link on the left side of this page) about children heading to the Broadway theatres to catch shows like the new import CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (yes, a stage version of that classic film). I was particularly struck by the last line of the article:
"If you go as a child, you go as an adult," says Bernstein. "Our research shows it. It's the circle of Broadway life."
Research? Has someone actually spent time and money to research this? It would seem to me to be common sense. Children aren't going to grow up to enjoy something (such as theatre), if they've never been exposed to it. And that brings me to my next thought... Why aren't we exposing our children to more art? Why is it that the arts are the first thing to be cut from school curriculum when budgets are cut, and why are we cutting budgets from our schools in the first place? Does no one but me realize that we CAN control our future by the education we offer to our children?
I understand that very few children will grow up to have a career in the arts, even those who've been exposed to it, but what promising Picasso or future Shakespeare are we denying by not offering them art?
I've lived my dream -- I've worked on Broadway and Off-Broadway. I've written and published several plays, one of which has been translated and is sold in Europe. I've worked in and written for film and television. And I can trace it all back to seeing theatre as a child. Our schools took field trips to see children's theatre, and my parents took me to shows as well. Obviously it struck a very profound chord within me.
Yes, "if you go as a child, you go as an adult." This should be posted on every law-maker's, every politian's, every educator's, and every school board member's stationary. What we do today will be reflected in our children tomorrow, so let's stop denying them art.
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