“Where is theater going wrong?” This is the question Abi Brizuela, the Chief Executive Officer of The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company asked me, and truly a question many people who care about performing arts should ask themselves. 

I am currently a high school theater student and take courses in acting, musical theater, and directing. As we come to the end of the 2024 school year we begin to prepare show options for our upcoming year. We discuss what we like, what we don’t like, what we would be excited to do, and shows that just don’t pique our interests. We hear shows like Shrek the Musical, Spongebob the Musical, and even Beauty and the Beast. And what do they all have in common? They’re all remakes taken from beloved movies and shows and turned into Broadway hits. 

I’m not saying that these Broadway hits aren’t great productions, but what I am saying is that people have distanced themselves so far from theater that theatrical writers have compromised writing new stories and have instead begun making adaptations. We are starting to see remakes take over the theater world, and though it has some level of success, at some point people will start thinking “I don’t need to see that, I’ve already watched the movie.” In the same way many people don’t read books made into movies anymore. 

This current and future generation of kids has been blessed and cursed with technology. We don’t need to go anywhere to get entertainment anymore, especially because two years of our lives were spent indoors. We get to stay in the comfort and safety of our own homes and be entertained for little to no money. I get to lie down all day and scroll on social media and be fed new and interesting topics with every swipe. Why would I go see a theater production of something I’ve not only seen but have such easy access to?

This leads me to another question Abi asked me: “Why do you think it’s important for youth to be leaders when it comes to the future of theater?” I think it's because we have the passion for it. I am grateful enough to have incredible friends with just as much passion as me, and who are EXCITED, not money-hungry. Making spaces for people like that is what will make theater intriguing to younger audiences. As someone who doesn’t come from a wealthy family, I never grew up having the option to take art classes, but when I finally found one, it opened doors I didn’t even know were there! Working with the Unusual Suspects, and being able to collaborate with other kids my age to make something like DEVISE Magazine makes me hopeful, and proud that people are finally realizing we are more than just teens. We are people with love and dedication who plan on making an impact on the world with our art.