I can still recall my last summer … in “The Music Man!”
This summer, I returned to the theater after a year-long hiatus. To put it in a semi-weird way, theater was my first love. It was my real first introduction to a hands-on art form.
It all started in eighth grade with “42nd Street,” then on to other productions like “Mamma Mia!,” “High School Musical,” “Sweet Charity,” “Murder’s In The Heir,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and most recently, “The Music Man.” From the moment I first stepped into a theater, I knew I had found a special place. The anticipation before the curtain rises, the collective breath of the audience and the magic that unfolds on stage. The theater is where stories come to life, where every emotion is heightened and where I find a sense of belonging.
There’s something extraordinary about the way theater blends all art forms. Acting, music, dance, set design and lighting blend into a single, cohesive experience. It’s a living, breathing art that demands the full engagement of both the performers and the audience. No two performances are ever the same, and that unpredictability is part of the allure.
It’s not just the performance that captivates me. Theater has the power to challenge, provoke and inspire. It invites us to see the world through different lenses, to feel empathy for characters whose lives may be vastly different from our own and to explore the complexities of the human condition. Each play or musical is a journey, one that leaves me reflecting on life long after the final bow.
The community within theater is also something I love. There’s a camaraderie among theater lovers. A shared understanding of the beauty and depth that live performance offers. Whether I’m screaming “Hamilton” lyrics with friends or sitting quietly in an audience of strangers, I feel a connection with anyone who appreciates the art form as much as I do.
Theater, to me, is more than entertainment — it’s a celebration of creativity and humanity. It’s where I find joy, peace and a deeper understanding of the world and myself. My love for theater is enduring, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have discovered this world where art and life overlap so beautifully.
Nick Keller is a columnist. Contact him at [email protected].
