Shining a Spotlight on Issues of Mental Health in Musical Theater and Ways Psychologists Can Help: Perspectives of Theater Professionals
Millions of American adults attend musical theater annually, and many productions address psychological themes, such as mental illness, substance use disorder, and suicide. Almost no empirical research has examined the potential role of attending and/or participating in professional musical theater...
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| Published in: | Professional psychology, research and practice research and practice, 2021-12, Vol.52 (6), p.579-587 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Millions of American adults attend musical theater annually, and many productions address psychological themes, such as mental illness, substance use disorder, and suicide. Almost no empirical research has examined the potential role of attending and/or participating in professional musical theater as a means of stimulating discussion and increasing awareness around the topic of mental illness, both for the actors and audience members. Fifteen professional theater actors and/or directors were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. Semistructured interviews explored how musical theater with psychological themes can be impactful for the production team and audience members, and the potential benefits and roles of a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) for the actors and audience. Principles of consensual qualitative research guided the analyses. Five overarching themes emerged in the interviews, including the impacts of musical theater on the audience, actors' experience of doing musical theater with psychological themes, actors' commitment to an accurate portrayal of mental illness in characters, roles BHCs could play in productions, and characteristics of effective BHCs. Consistent with recent calls for psychologists to serve their communities, this study highlights an opportunity wherein psychologists may form relationships with and support local professional and nonprofit theaters. Numerous specific ways in which BHCs could assist both actors and audience members surrounding shows with psychological themes are described.
Public Significance Statement
Sparked by the awareness that many musical theater productions powerfully address themes of mental illness, interviews with 15 theater professionals were conducted; participants shared how theater can evoke strong emotions in both performers and the audience, can give people experiencing mental health challenges the experience of being "seen," and can open dialog and decrease stigma surrounding mental illness. The study introduces the role of a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) who can support the production team and audience in many ways. |
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| ISSN: | 0735-7028 1939-1323 |