Opinion: Who or what will save the performing arts

My wife and I do theater reviews and attend over 45 live shows some in eastern theaters. I have been reviewing for over a decade now. I've watched live theater survive Covid and emerge with standing ovations all over the east end and island. Congratulations to everyone whose passion is live theater.

This includes actors, directors, producers, sponsors, crew and volunteers. I watch people give their all under the lights of the theater. I always stand and applaud their efforts. However, I have this observation. I fear for the future of theater because I just don't see future generations enthusiastically supporting the live performing arts. Maybe they'd rather stay home and destroy, conquer and kill through the latest high-tech video games.

The Internet has brought a huge amount of entertainment platforms to individual homes. For a nominal fee one can enjoy themselves in their favorite chair in their favorite room in their home, having their favorite snacks right away.

By attending the shows I am following my generation (I am 71) continuing to support live theater by performing it. What I don't see are groups of young people in groups anywhere in theaters. I've watched art directors attempt progressive programming to try to ride the wave of change, but I'm not sure it works. I can only ring the bell to say heads up.

Paul Simon sarcastically wrote in a song in the mid-1960s, “Is the theater really dead?” It wasn't maybe it would never die. William Shakespeare wrote: “All the world's a stage!” I guess now every computer is a theater.