Last night we saw The Wizard of Oz at the Citadel Theatre. This production–based on the book by Frank Baum, first published in 1900–exceeded my expectations. The energy of the actors, the live music, the costumes, the set and lighting design, all combined to create a feel-good evening out. As I looked around during the standing ovation and watched the crowd leaving the theatre, I was reminded of the transforming power of art. Even in a work of fantasy such as this, we gain insight into the human spirit and discover universal truths.
Last weekend at the Emmys, Barbra Streisand paid tribute to her friend Robert Redford who died last September. He once said, “The glory of art is that it can not only survive change, it can lead it.” To some, art may seem superfluous. And yet, I believe art–in its many forms–has the power to change hearts, to educate, to transform, to inspire, and to connect us on a human level.
So, pick up your pen or your paintbrush … sit down at the piano or the sewing machine … step onto a stage … allow yourself to create and see where it takes you. Don’t forget to let your students do the same!