More Than a Performance
Theater education is about much more than preparing for opening night. Every rehearsal provides young people with opportunities to build confidence, solve problems creatively, collaborate with others, and discover their own voice.
Over the past several decades, researchers have examined how participation in theater and other arts programs influences children’s academic, social, and emotional development. While no single activity guarantees success, a growing body of evidence shows that arts education can play an important role in helping young people thrive—in school, in the workplace, and in life.
The strongest evidence points to growth in communication, confidence, creativity, empathy, collaboration, and positive youth development.
Communication & Confidence
Theater gives students repeated opportunities to speak, listen, present ideas, and perform in front of others. Over time, these experiences help develop communication skills that extend far beyond the stage.
Students involved in theater often develop:
- Greater confidence speaking in front of groups
- Stronger verbal communication skills
- Improved expressive language
- Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
- Better active listening skills
These are the same skills students rely on in classroom presentations, job interviews, leadership roles, and everyday conversations.
Research Highlights
Harland et al. (2000) found that drama education contributes to improvements in communication skills, expressive abilities, confidence, and teamwork.
Sources
Harland, J., et al. (2000). Arts Education in Secondary Schools: Effects and Effectiveness. National Foundation for Educational Research.
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/arts-education-in-secondary-schools-effects-and-effectiveness/
Empathy & Emotional Intelligence
Unlike many activities, theater asks students to temporarily see the world through someone else’s eyes.
As they explore characters with different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, students practice understanding perspectives outside their own.
Research suggests drama participation helps students develop:
- Empathy
- Emotional awareness
- Compassion
- Perspective-taking
- Stronger interpersonal relationships
These skills contribute to healthier relationships both inside and outside the classroom.
Research Highlights
Drama education has been shown to be particularly effective in fostering empathy and social-emotional learning.
The National Endowment for the Arts also highlights evidence that arts participation supports emotional well-being, resilience, and compassion.
Sources
Harland et al. (2000)
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/arts-education-in-secondary-schools-effects-and-effectiveness/
National Endowment for the Arts (2023)
https://www.arts.gov/back-school-arts-education
Teamwork, Responsibility & Leadership
No production succeeds because of one individual.
Actors, stage managers, technicians, musicians, designers, and volunteers all depend on one another.
Young people quickly learn:
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Responsibility
- Leadership
- Time management
- Problem solving
Perhaps most importantly, they learn that every role matters.
Whether a student has one line, runs a spotlight, or leads the cast, each contribution helps create something larger than themselves.
Research Highlights
Researchers consistently identify collaboration, teamwork, and social development as key outcomes of arts participation.
Source
Harland et al. (2000)
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/arts-education-in-secondary-schools-effects-and-effectiveness/
Creativity & Critical Thinking
Theater constantly asks students to make creative decisions.
How should this scene be staged?
Why is this character behaving this way?
How can we solve this technical challenge?
These experiences encourage students to develop:
- Creative thinking
- Adaptability
- Flexible problem solving
- Innovation
- Critical thinking
These competencies are increasingly recognized as essential workforce skills across virtually every profession.
Research Highlights
Studies have found that arts education strengthens creative thinking and helps students transfer those skills into other contexts.
Source
Harland et al. (2000)
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/arts-education-in-secondary-schools-effects-and-effectiveness/
Positive Youth Development
Perhaps the most compelling research looks beyond childhood and asks:
What happens later?
Longitudinal studies following students over many years have found that sustained arts participation is associated with:
- Greater school engagement
- Higher educational aspirations
- Increased college attendance
- Positive social behaviors
- Stronger civic engagement
- Greater optimism about the future
Importantly, researchers caution that these findings are associations, not proof that theater alone caused these outcomes. Students who choose the arts may differ in other important ways, and responsible researchers account for those factors whenever possible.
Even so, the evidence consistently suggests that arts education contributes meaningfully to positive youth development.
Research Highlights
Kenneth Elpus (2013) examined national longitudinal data and found broad cognitive, behavioral, and social benefits among students involved in the arts.
James Catterall’s long-term research similarly found that sustained arts participation is associated with stronger educational attainment and civic engagement.
Sources
Elpus, K. (2013)
Catterall, J. (2009)
What the Research Doesn’t Say
Good research is honest.
While theater education is associated with many positive developmental outcomes, researchers generally do not conclude that theater alone causes higher standardized test scores once differences in prior achievement, socioeconomic status, and family background are considered.
Instead, the strongest evidence supports outcomes like:
- Communication
- Confidence
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Empathy
- School engagement
- Social-emotional development
- Positive youth development
These are the qualities that help young people become successful learners, coworkers, leaders, and citizens.
Why Shade Tree Players Matters
At Shade Tree Players, we believe theater is one of the most powerful ways young people can grow—not just as performers, but as people.
Our programs for students ages 7–18 create opportunities to:
- Build confidence
- Learn responsibility
- Develop leadership
- Practice teamwork
- Solve creative challenges
- Form lasting friendships
- Discover the joy of storytelling
Our goal isn’t to create professional actors.
Our goal is to help young people become capable, compassionate, confident adults.
References
Arts Education Partnership. ArtsEdSearch.
https://www.artsedsearch.org
Harland, J., et al. (2000). Arts Education in Secondary Schools: Effects and Effectiveness.
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/arts-education-in-secondary-schools-effects-and-effectiveness/
Elpus, K. (2013). Arts Education and Positive Youth Development.
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/arts-education-and-positive-youth-development-cognitive-behavioral-and-social-outcomes-of-adolescents-who-study-the-arts/
Catterall, J. (2009). Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art.
https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/doing-well-and-doing-good-by-doing-art-the-effects-of-education-in-the-visual-and-performing-arts-on-the-achievements-and-values-of-young-adults/
National Endowment for the Arts. Back to School with Arts Education.
https://www.arts.gov/back-school-arts-education