I usually leave the TV shows to my pal Angela and her Stay Tuned blog, but Fox's TV show Glee touches on some interesting points about Glee Clubs (around here we call 'em Show Choirs) and Community Theatre, so I thought I'd mention it here.
I have to admit that I'm on the fence about the show (though obviously it's not aimed at a geezer like me). I like the musical numbers - they're well done and whoever picks the music has great taste - but the soap opera-ish hijinks between the songs don't do much for me. Still, it's good to see a musical-based show on TV.
The main reason I bring the show up is because, as near as I can tell, almost everyone involved in community theatre loves the show and watches it faithfully. Of course, Show Choirs and Community Theatre are closely related (in my opinion).
Community Theatre is all about bringing a story to life, often using music and dance to illustrate the tale. Show Choir is all about the performance, blending music and dance to provide an entertaining show. Sometimes there's a story there, but usually it's just a combination of somewhat-related songs. So both groups use similar tools, they just have a slightly different goal in mind.
Some people love one, some love the other. I certainly hope there's room for both in this big ol' world, though I know the two occasionally clash, mostly because of the time requirements for each. I've been involved in more than one show where time conflicts between a show and a Show Choir made for difficulties. It takes a lot of rehearsal to prepare for any show, and it's tough to do more than one show. It's possible, but it's difficult.
It's my experience that Show Choirs and Community Theatre groups try to coexist, with mixed results. The thing is, they're both drawing on the same talent pool, and both require the commitment of a lot of time and energy.
It's a shame that kids often have to choose one or the other (depending on the requirements of each) - it would be nice if they could do both. But there are only so many hours in the day, after all.
Glee is actually showcasing an activity that rarely gets time in the spotlight, and it's a well-done show, so hopefully it will spark interest and bring more young people to joining a local music or theatre group.
Whichever group they end up with (or both), being part of performances is a great experience for young people. They make friends, have fun, and build self-confidence.
It's what they call a "win-win" situation.
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