Scrapbooking

My idea focuses on Theater, and its role in affecting my past present and future. I'm not sure if this is a fully developed concept yet, and would really love some feedback. Theater is a place where many things are learned, and critical skills can be developed. There are many things that go into a production that the audience may not see, but the production cannot be accomplished without these things. This also applies to life: There's a lot of background work that goes into creating a well functioning adult. (I digress...) Basically, Theater has shaped who I am. When I was a child, we always had season tickets to Musical Theater Southwest (It was actually a different company back then I think), and every few months we would go see plays. Oliver!, The sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Annie, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Rent... a lot of plays. By the time I can remember going to summer classes, I was in Theater. Story Theater was the earliest, my favorite plays we did then were "The Blind Men and the Elephant", and "How the Camel Got His Hump." Then The big Musicals, like Guys and Dolls.

Later, I started doing things backstage, Like costuming, make-up, publicity, set design, and started realizing how much goes into these productions. It made me think a lot about our culture, and what goes on behind the scenes of what we see day to day. How much had to go into preparing the pre-made sandwich for lunch, or the posters advertising a club meeting? Who had to get the permission to hang those, who had to make them?

When I decided that I want to teach, something came up. Special Education students (Exceptional Learners) don't get the outlets that students get because of their special needs. How much can they benefit from a program that has them work in a theater? This concept has been budding across the nation, but there are no programs integrated into the public schools here to guide students. That's what I want to do.

So my theme, I guess, my thesis would be how theater can affect a life? What theater can do, how it can help, and what it can convey. I'm not sure if I'm not the right track, I was trying to give some background into my thoughts so that you understood where this was coming from.

Again, let me know if this is completely off base. Thanks!