The Beauty of Theater

By: Meredith Bowman, Perimeter School Teacher and Drama Director

What I love most about theater is that it is inherently a collaborative artform. To put on a show, it takes many people with many unique gifts and talents.

Actors create characters, dancers add movement and life, singers and musicians fill the room with energy and vibrancy. Behind the scenes, it takes stagehands to make sure things run smoothly, technicians awaiting their cues, and a director doing his or her best to organize the chaos. There must be artists to paint the backdrops, sew the costumes, design the lights, and program the sound. We need volunteers to collect props, build sets, publicize the show, apply makeup, and so much more.

The beauty of theater is that it is an effort of teamwork. The magic of a show is in everyone doing their part to bring a story to life.

our Roles

In this way, theater is a metaphor for the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.” Ultimately, just as a body has many parts, there are many roles within the body of Christ, and we all come together for His glory.

As a theater educator at a school like Perimeter, I love being able to discuss with our students how their roles in a musical mirror their roles in God’s kingdom, how using their unique gifts and talents to share a story with an audience reflects how we can use our unique gifts and talents to share the greatest story, the story of the gospel, with the world.

Once Upon a Mattress

Just as 1 Corinthians 12 values the “varieties of gifts” we have each been given, this year’s musical, Once Upon a Mattress, is a celebration of individuality.

While the whole kingdom is awaiting a princess “as delicate and dainty as a dragonfly’s wing,” the newcomer who turns up from the swamps is anything but the familiar fairytale princess. Though her fiery presence is unexpected in Queen Aggravain’s oppressive kingdom, Winnifred the Woebegone wins everyone over with her positive attitude, strength, and willingness to help others.

The people love Winnifred for her differences and welcome her with open arms. Additionally, Winnifred’s confidence in her own unique gifts and abilities is a lovely reminder that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that we can each use our unique gifts in service of the body of Christ.

Sharing this story with you

After a year of isolation and separation, the beauty of the collaborative nature of theater has been more powerfully evident than ever before. Though it certainly hasn’t been easy to put on a musical in the wake of a pandemic, the cast and crew have been more excited than ever to celebrate togetherness!

Eighth grader Haley Binford describes her fellow drama students as a “theater family” and said that she missed that comradery a lot during last year’s quarantine. When asked what the process has been like this year in comparison to previous years, Haley said, “Even though we have to be more careful this year, everybody just seems more determined to make this show work and do what we can to make it happen.”

Similarly, eighth grader Gavin Grubbs said, “I think at the start, it was kind of weird trying to separate, but we’ve gotten over that and it’s great to work together again.”

Seventh grader Olivia Crays said, “It was hard at first with masks on and everything, but we’ve really bonded as a cast being onstage together. Everybody really missed that during COVID!”

We certainly did miss that togetherness this past year, and now, with a newfound appreciation for what it means to work together and collaborate, we are beyond excited and thankful to have the opportunity to join together once again to share this story with you!

Perimeter School Drama presents Getting to Know Once Upon a Mattress! Join us this Thursday, April 29 at 4:00 PM and Friday, April 30 at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to see our students work together, collaborate, and share this story. Tickets are $7 at the door, and Perimeter School families can be billed through FACTS for their ticket purchases Click here for more information.