One of the very oddest occurrences that we are putting to rest in our department is the not-so-playfull division that students are identifying between those in performance and those in musical theatre. We are all actually in the one, same, theatre department, but students have seemed to delight in drawing lines between the two – our workshops and your workshops – our room and your room – our teacher and your teacher – our work ethic and your work ethic – the amount of work and expectations that we face and the work and expectations that we face. Who is better? Who is more important? On and on.
It has been a challenge to make everyone see that we are all under the one umbrella of theatre, and that although our rooms, teachers, and events are different, we are all here to serve the one and same audience. We work differently, but we certainly equally work.
Where does this come from? I do think that in the urge to celebrate your uniqueness, it makes sense compare your work to others. I think that in the more advanced junior and senior level classes most don’t really KNOW what the other group is working on in their specific class. – – BUT . . .
Uniquness and pride in your interest is a fine thing, but when it comes down to secret handshakes and colors of t-shirts – much less graffiti and vandalism then you have gone way, way too far. Trust me, we are not going to play out some real life West Side Story with divisions in the acting program.