Bronxville School is fortunate to have a very active theater arts program, including sponsoring musicals and plays. School theater is incredibly fun and everyone should participate! Whether you like to be on stage or help backstage everyone is welcomed and can have a direct role in making the production a big success. 

School theater is a great way to meet new people and build confidence. Participation also helps build teamwork, develop coordination, and storytelling skills, and helps students unlock their creative talents.  According to the American Alliance for Theatre & Education:

• Students involved in drama performance coursework or experience outscored non-arts students on the 2005 SAT by an average of 65 points in the verbal component and 34 points in the math component.
• Drama activities improve reading comprehension and both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Drama helps to improve school attendance and reduce high school dropout rates.
• A 2005 Harris Poll revealed that 93% of the public believes that arts, including theater, are vital to a well-rounded education.
• Drama can improve skills and academic performance in children and youth with learning disabilities.

The time commitment and responsibility are equally important. Students are required to plan ahead and manage their schedules, including homework and other personal responsibilities. Executive planning skills will help in school and longer term outside of school. 

All of the hard work is incredibly rewarding when the production comes together. It is very satisfying to perform for the community on stage and see people’s reactions. For example, Bronxville High School recently produced a very successful student run play called Our Place by Terry Wayne Gabbard. This was an extremely dramatic play but also had a lot of humor. The Bronxville High School also produced Hello Dolly and The Play That Goes Wrong this school year.