Fairmont Area Community Theater 2021

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." - Oscar Wilde

Theater has been an important part of society throughout history; from the ancient Greeks, to Elizabethan England and right up into modern times. Theater takes on social issues, it entertains and instructs.

Community theater including children's theater has the potential to have a causal sequence of positive impact among the community. They come together to create a shared experience for an audience. Theater gives opportunities to try new things in a safe and supportive community and provides three-fold development: educational, personal, and relational. 

The educational aspect of community theater comes from learning how to read music, paint, build sets, dance, and do any of the behind the scenes tech. In addition to this, they gain communication skills that are relevant in any field. Some find their passion behind the scenes, designing and building sets, while others work in costume and makeup, or lighting and sound. Through the programs, participants will learn and expand a wide variety of theater-related skills that they can utilize in the future for theater and non-theater activities and work. These experiences give children an outlet to learn new skills and acquire a new passion.

Not only do the theater participants get hands on, physical skills from theater involvement, but they also gain a variety of personal development proficiencies such as self-confidence, collaboration, memorization, problem solving, and imagination. 

Finally, theater involvement give people a place to belong. Through our FACT programming, they are given the opportunity to connect with others they might not connect with outside of theater. 

The impact however, extends beyond just those involved in the programs. It also impacts the community socially and economically. The arts are more likely to attract residents to the area. More people means more businesses and more community participation.