Date of Award
6-2014
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Theatre Arts
Abstract
The power of story goes beyond mere escapist entertainment. Yes it should entertain, but that is not the ultimate goal. It may even offer a bit of escape, but again this is not the holy grail. When we experience a well-crafted narrative, we are called to cross a threshold. We pass through the door of our own life and enter into the experience of another. This is what we mean when we say we "got lost" in the story. We take on the experience of another as our own. When a group of people experience a narrative they cross this threshold together. "They" becomes "us". The theatre is the oldest and most powerful expressions of the building of community. The task of the director is to craft stories that enliven this community empathy.
Recommended Citation
Kingston, Kevin, "Play from the Heart: On Crafting a Community of Empathy in the Theatre" (2014). The Theatre School MFA in Directing Theses. 5.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/tts/5