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Alex Brown
Mrs. DeBock
English IV Honors
March 4, 2015
Dramatic Advantages
As with most of the arts, theatre is seen as unimportant and often a waste of time, making
it cut from the educational budget the most often. Parents usually hope their children will take
interest in something more beneficial to their future or education, but theatre is one of the most
beneficial subjects. Students whom take apart in theatre advance their peers and become well
rounded pupils. Students can benefit academically, socially, and emotionally.
Academically, students participate often better and more frequently when they are
involved in dramatic programs. Statistically, students involved in drama scored an average of
65.5 points higher on the verbal component and 35.5 points higher in the math component of the
SAT, 55 points higher on verbal and 26 points higher on math than their non-arts classmates
(The Effects of Theatre Education). Students participating in theatre have been shown to have
a fewer rate of dropping out and better attendance. When people learn how to perform in front of
others they can feel more comfortable speaking in front of other groups including their peers and
strangers; allowing them to be more confident speaking with others on a daily basis (Taylor).
Playwriting is one of the most academically beneficial parts of theatre; it helps with writing and
languages skills and general sociology of how people interact and speak to one another. When
playwrights are writing, they often have to research a topic and find examples of the subject of

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their play, giving them good studying skills. Overall, students participating in drama excel
academically more than those who do not.
Socially, performers are almost obviously more outgoing than their peers who do not
perform. Even if they are less sociable in normal life situations, drama can bring out the extrovert
in a person. During a show a person must be able to communicate and learn how to work with
others well for a show to work well. When the cast and crew work together during practices and
performances, it helps with their teamwork, cooperation and communication skills. Performers
need to work well with the other actors to have a good relationship on stage. Drama helps
develop students' non-verbal, individual and group communication skills (Drama New
Zealand). They also need to have a good relationship with the stage crew and light managers so
that they know how the set will work around them. As well as the actors, the crew needs to work
together so that they can communicate and make sure the set pieces go where they need to.
While presenting drama, students share their work with others, learn about the importance of
clear and evocative communication and in so doing develop self-confidence and communication
skills (Drama New Zealand). More often than not, there are actors that believe they are better
than their crew counterparts and vice versa; but one always needs the other. There could never be
a show without actors and with the crew the actors would be on a dark, empty stage. Theatre
teaches children and adults how to work on something bigger than themselves.
Emotionally, everyone can benefit from being in a drama production of any sort. Theatre
has many different outlets available including: acting, playwriting, stage design and directing.
Customarily, students gain self-confidence after finding what they are good at on and off stage.
There are countless people working during productions doing different jobs; this forces people to
become more trusting with others. Every person who has ever worked in theatre has had to

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become less sensitive in in some way. One of the first lessons is that there is always someone
better; with this knowledge it expels people from disappointment and gives incentive to become
better and reach the top (Martinez). Many playwrights write about problems in their lives giving
teenagers and children whom read it confidence that they are not alone in their possibly bad
situations. This also helps students whom are in bad situations become a character that does not
have that problem or has the problem but solves it. Acting and playwriting is great for coping in
stressful situations.
Students whom take apart in theatre advance their peers socially, academically and
emotionally and become well rounded pupils. They grow in almost every aspect of their lives,
becoming better students and hardworking citizens.

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Works Cited
"Drama New Zealand." Why Drama? N.p., 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2015
"The Effects of Theatre Education." American Alliance for Theatre Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 17
Feb. 2015.
Martinez, Eliza. "The Advantages of Introducing Drama to Teens." Everyday Life, Demand
Media. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.
Taylor, Beth. "Why Teach Fine Arts, Music, Art, or Drama in Elementary Education?" Bright
Hub Education. N.p., 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.