GoodLifeFamilyMag.com SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2017 63 Theatre is a unique art form in which participants are chal- lenged physically, mentally and emotionally—making it perfect for developing a healthy lifestyle. In a time when arts are often the first programs to see budget cuts, it seems imperative to remind the community of the benefits that stem from strapping on your character shoes and taking to the stage. At North Texas Performing Arts/Plano Children’s Theatre (NTPA/PCT), which is celebrating its 26th anniversary, their mission is developing the character of youth through quality performing arts educa- tion and family entertainment. Character is a word that is not used much in the 21st century, but is one that NTPA/PCT instills in their students every day by developing the body, mind and soul. Physically, performers have to stay in shape and be active to handle the blocking, choreography and stage combat that comes their way. Much in the way football players run the same plays a dozen times to get them locked in, performers repeat the same physical sequence to ensure consistency. The number of hours spent in learning to dance, fight, sing, or even find the inner core strength to stand entirely still for long moments of time when creating a tableau all require a high level of physical health. In this way, theatre can very much be considered a sport with the level of physical training and activity that goes into the rehearsal and performance process. Mentally, performers are running a cognitive marathon to mem- orize lines and blocking, analyze text, complete research into the history of the material and tackle new concepts. The pro- ductions have underlying themes that become life lessons. This experience may begin with our younger students in works such as Honk, the tale of The Ugly Duckling, or Beauty and the Beast. They learn how hurtful thoughtless words can be, how looks can be deceiving, how to be accepting and love all people. This is in addition to staying on task and focusing for multi-hour rehears- als and performances. The students continue to expand their character and minds with productions such as Les Miserables –School Edition, where the cast not only studied the French Revolution but also societal struggles of poverty and discrimination. The older students were challenged again last spring with the iconic One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, in which the cast delved into the subject matter of mental health. They learned about various mental disorders and struggles of the patients in the play. It was an impactful ex- perience for both cast and audience and allowed our students to have much greater empathy in interacting with others who may be dealing with similar issues. The performing arts have always been an important part of so- ciety. While they are primarily praised for entertainment value, the art forms of theater, music and dance can and do have a pos- itive impact on the individual and the community by improving body, mind and soul. Through performing, an individual can gain self-efficacy and learn how to express him or herself, es- tablish healthy relationships and feel fulfilled and content (Sos- hensky, 2011). Performing enables individuals who "may have once felt invisible, to be visible" (Shiloh and Lagasse, 2014). It also allows the individuals to "redefine" who they are—to find their own place in the world. MARKYOURCALENDAR:NorthTexasPerformingArts/PlanoChildren’sTheatre NewHomeattheWillowBendCenterfortheArts–September2017 Healthy Stages: Developing the Body, Mind and Soul in Performance By Lisa Rodenbaugh / Contributor Much in the way football players run the same plays a dozen times to get them locked in, performers repeat the same physical sequence to ensure consistency. Productions like Beauty and the Beast have underlying themes that become life lessons. Theater students learn how hurtful thoughtless words can be, how looks can be deceiving, and how to be more accepting of all people. Connor McNamara as Beast. Photo Credit: Cathy Secrest