The Effects of Deeper Engagement on Socio-Emotional Outcomes From a Single Live Theater Experience

• In Event: Social and Emotional Learning and the Arts

Abstract

Recent findings suggest that a single live theatre performance may be causally linked to increases in multiple areas of child socioemotional development (e.g., social perspective taking [SPT]; Greene et al., 2018). The current study seeks to extend this work by testing for growth in middle school students’ SPT and empathy after a live theater performance, whether said growth is enhanced by deeper engagement in pre and post-show experiences, and whether prior theatre experience or in-show engagement might moderate these associations. This study utilizes a pre-post design with randomized control and treatment groups. Several significant findings suggest that when paired with the right pre and post-show experiences, students’ socioemotional skills can be positively impacted through a single live theatre performance.

Authors

• Reba Troxler, John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

• Stephanie McKeel, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

• Elysia Howe, George Mason University

• Charles Richard Beekman, John F. Kennedy Center

• Muna J. Shami, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

• Steven J. Holochwost, Wolf Brown

• Thalia Goldstein, George Mason University