Is theatre art?

Is Theatre Art?

Theatre is Art. If you were to compare a painting to a play you would find little difference. A painting has an audience, a setting (like a gallery), a theme, and was created to entertain the audience. The same can be said of a play. But, a play differs, in that a play has actors in it. Let’s compare the two.
For example, I will compare the play “Hello, Dolly” (by Jerry Herman) to “A Starry Night” (by Vincent Van Gogh). Both are forms of art. They both have an audience. They both have a stage. “Hello, Dolly” is in the theatre and “Starry Night” is in the gallery. They both have a story: “Hello, Dolly” is about a matchmaker who helps other people but is now (finally) helping herself. “A Starry Night” is about the world outside the asylum and the beauty of the night sky; it is an interpretative work. They both entertain audiences. One of the most famous paintings is “A Starry Night” and one of the most successful and entertaining musicals is “Hello, Dolly”.
Another reason that I believe “Theatre is Art” is because theatre invokes emotion. A song like “Before the Parade Passes by”, or Lena’s monologue from “A Raisin in the Sun” (when she gets upset because Walter spends all of her money) both cause emotion in the crowd. Whether it is an inept performance or a great performance, plays still invoke emotion in the audience. The interpretation and performance of the play is without question an art form.
If none of the above convinces you that “Theatre is Art”, consider the stages and costumes. Some are somewhat barren, while others cost hundreds and thousands of dollars to produce (such as “Wicked” or “Sweeny Todd”. It takes much effort and creativity to make sets and costumes that are so memorable. Similar to a good piece of art, it takes much time, effort and creativity to produce a good product.