At the Heart of Humanity

For many people, theater is pure entertainment, the chance to experience some great acting or to enjoy the glitz of an extravagant production. But beneath the surface, there is another aspect to the art, one that Bruce A. Levitt and Beth F. Milles, professor and associate professor, respectively, in performing and media arts, address.

Along with creating and producing plays and other types of performances, they explore the meaning behind the bright lights: What is theater’s value to 21st-century society? In what way does it serve as a conduit for performers and audience members to explore their own humanity? And how does theater today respond to contemporary audiences steeped in the immediacy of smart phones and 10-minute YouTube videos?

Read the entire story on the Cornell Research website.