Personal Narrative: Empathy In Theatre

I used to be very self-centered and outspoken around my family. When I became a preteen, I started to worry more about what my peers thought of me, and I often would apply the looking-glass technique. I started to gain a more negative self-concept since I thought others perceived me as weird, but luckily this idea went away as I got older. I realized I needed to be nicer to my parents because they only want what is best for me. Playing games with me when I was a child must have been horrible.

I am a frequent movie theatre goer. I love the comfy seats, big screen, and euphoric aroma of movie theatre popcorn. An escapist technique, the movie transport viewers to another world. Using the psychological study provided in the article, if we do not remember the things we take photos of, is photography an escapist technique. We are creating a memory of something, without really remembering it. If we are never fully present to experience the vast beauty of the landmark we are photographing, are we escaping actually feeling something. Often times we hear that places like the Grand Canyon cause people to see “how small they really are.”

Some of my favorite points that stuck with me throughout reading the first six chapters of The Actor and the Target are that fear makes us unable to act (p.31), that bad news is great news for the actor (p. 44) and that the target is waiting to be found (p.46).

Feeling empathy and concern for others became a natural part of my personality. I became more sensitive to other people's emotional needs and states and became more accepting of myself and others. Identifying specific thinking patterns, which greatly stymied me from accomplishing certain goals and limited me was a new discovery .

From close family, to friends, to acquaintances, to teachers, it is something that is important and critical that I am considerate of others feelings. An example of empathy in my life is between my sister and I. My sister, Zoe and I have a great relationship, she is my very best friend. But, she is an extremely busy best friend! Her being a senior, she has a large amount of work to do! She works at her job, works on her Odyssey, applies for colleges, does homework, finds herself vegan meals, drives me places, the list could go on! At times I make the mistake of not giving her the empathy she deserves because I can get upset about her not spending enough time with me. It is a selfish action when I do that, and have to continue to learn and understand she has work to get done, and friends to spend time with as well. Lately, I’ve been working hard on not giving her a hard time and really putting myself in her shoes. I imagined myself in her shoes and visioned a chaotic mess! I’m proud she is handling the stress so well, and maintaining a good relationship with me, her friends, and herself. It’s important I am empathetic of her situation in life right now, and spend the time I can get with her happily, because soon she’s off the college. Empathy plays a huge role of my friendships and relationships. My dad always enjoys to remind me how proud he is of

When I was three years old, I could be found standing on fountains at the local mall and putting on concerts for passers by. Now, at 18 years old, the same joy I felt singing in the middle of a mall is what I feel crafting stories on stage and pursuing a character’s truth. Throughout the years, theatre has been an immensely important creative outlet for me, and the confidence I have found on stage has translated in my real life, making me a stronger person. As I pursue higher education in this field, I am excited at the prospect of continuing my studies at the University of Michigan, and being able to take advantage of all the opportunities I am so passionate about.

"I’m so nervous,” I complained to my mom as we walked into the Waukesha Civic Theatre. “What if I’m not good enough. I haven’t even prepared that much!” It was a crisp September day and some leaves had already started changing color. On the way home from school my mom told me about a play that the theater puts on near us every year and thought I would be good for it. Since I had only heard about the audition that day, it gave me a few hours to pick my song and be prepared for whatever part they wanted me to read. The next song that came on the radio was the song “Edge of Glory” by Lady GaGa and because it was in my vocal range I thought it would be good for me. Little did I know that this audition would change my view of theater.

My name is Samantha Norton and I'm an Adjunct professor with the Theatre & Dance Department. I teach acting 110.

Honestly for most of my life I've never been the most outgoing person in the world. I suppose a stranger would've called me reserved, but I knew that deep down inside that I had the ability to not be “that shy girl”.In time it did turn out I did have that I did have the ability not to be so quiet but it did take me quite a while; one experience in particular did in a way force me to come out of my shell.

Children always have a feeling to know how would others feel with their actions or words

Up until recently I did not know what I wanted to do with my degree. I was attending school and taking courses but I really had no idea which way to go upon graduation. Recently, after contemplating multiple career choices have decided that I want to become a licensed professional counselor and specialize in expressive/creative therapy working with children. Expressive therapies are those that introduce action to psychotherapy and that action within therapy and life is rarely limited to a specific mode of expression. Specifically, creative arts therapies share a commitment to the "expressive action that engages emotions in a direct and physical way; an ability to generate creative energy as a healing force for mind, body, and spirit; and a

Short term goals for future development are focused on play therapy and family involvement. As a play therapist, I want to continue to learn and master techniques for non-directive play therapy. Additionally, I would like to Although I have evolved over the semester to involving the parents more in sessions than I had before, it is still a goal to get more of the parents involved and learning how to do non-directive play with their children.

Growing up, I had a strong sense of empathy, being able to make connections with my

The performance and suspension of disbelief from the book The Actor as a Story Teller by Bruce Miller.

     There have been many dramatic plays over the centuries. Many of these plays have died in their time, while others have lived on. What makes these plays endure time and continue to be influential over time? Perhaps it is the storyline or the interesting nature of the play is what makes these dramas last. I think that it is the focus on human nature and its essential truths that keep these plays alive. Most of the plays, still enacted in theaters today, deal with social issues that people can learn from and relate to.