Once upon a time, back when Hollywood and New York were the competing epicenters of all forms of acting, the idea of attending acting schools in Michigan seemed ludicrous.
Yet, with the advent of the internet and platforms like YouTube, “acting high schools near me” pops up on more searches than ever before. And for aspiring young actors in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties, there are now options.
Attending an arts-integrated high school like Arts Academy in the Woods in Fraser, for example, gives students an education that blends acting with academics. And even if becoming a professional actor is not the hopeful end game, acting can benefit middle- and high schoolers in many ways.
The Benefits of Attending Acting Schools in Michigan
Whether you live in Detroit, Roseville, Madison Heights, or anywhere in between, if you have a child who shines when acting and performing, they may well thrive at an arts-integrated middle school or high school.
While these are not specifically acting schools, they do provide acting as a regular part of the curriculum. This may start your child on a track to stardom. Or, at the very least, a track to enjoying performing in community theater down the road.
Whatever the case, acting is a skill. And for young people performing in plays and other productions, it’s a skill that provides multiple benefits that go beyond ever making it big.
1. Develops Empathy
Effective leaders and communicators must be able to empathize. They know how to listen to others and make a habit of engaging, inspiring, and truly caring for those they lead.
To be believable, an actor must be able to experience another person’s point of view. This requires them to broaden their perspective and, in turn, develop empathy. Being able understand the experiences and feelings of other people is a crucial skill for connecting with others in the world.
2. Builds Teamwork Skills
To do “adulting” well, young people need to recognize they don’t exist in a vacuum. They will need to be able to be open and vulnerable to the deepest levels of emotional connection.
When teens come together to create a scene, they rely on one another to play out the scene and be willing to adapt and flow with it as it naturally morphs and shifts. They not only work as a team, but many build real and lasting friendships through acting.
3. Teaches Social Skills
Social media does not make people social. Quite the opposite. And for teenagers who spend hours on the screen each day, they’re not developing essential social skills that will help them navigate the adult world.
As mentioned above, acting in a production or a play forces teens together – some of whom may not otherwise connect. After all, in what capacity might a ninth grader from Warren connect with a sixth grader from Wixom?
Through acting exercises where they have to partner up or work in a group, students develop the ability to genuinely connect with one another. Through these bonds, they also learn trust.
4. Serves As an Emotional Outlet
When a student is required to proverbially step into someone else’s shoes, they have to access themselves and their emotions in a unique way while still being believable to others. As such, they become more in tune with their feelings and emotions and can easily recognize negative emotions such as frustrations, sadness, and fear that may be dragging them down.
Through the therapeutic act of acting, they can release these emotions in a safe setting.
5. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills
The moment a student receives a part in a play or production, there are many things to consider. They have to figure out how to interpret the script and play their character, ponder what sort of costume they’ll wear, how they’ll say a line and where they’ll stand on stage. They also soon discover that they need to be able to think on their feet and meet unexpected challenges that come with plays and other productions. And there can be many!
Problem-solving is one of the most invaluable skills to possess when entering adulthood. And acting is one of the best ways to develop it.
6. Increases Neuroplasticity
Okay. So here’s where we get a little scientific on you.
Acting requires mass amounts of memorization. And having the ability to retain and recall information becomes increasingly important as we age. Sure, teenagers don’t really have to worry about their memories. But by developing this skill while young, it becomes a habit. Continuing to habitually exercise this part of the brain will encourage new neural connections to improve their memory as they age.
Even if that’s a long way off. (Think of it as pro-active aging.)
7. Improves Communication and Public Speaking Skills
Without communication, there can be no connection.
While young actors learn how to speak clearly and project their voices for public speaking purposes, they also learn the subtleties of nonverbal communication.
Through studying dialogue and learning how to pick up on subtle cues, they gain better insight into how a character is thinking and feeling. This skill then stretches beyond the stage in their communication with their teachers, friends, family members, and anyone else they encounter. And it’s a valuable skill to have as an adult.
All the World’s a Stage
Shakespeare had it right. The stage truly is a metaphor for all of life. And the skills young people develop through acting can help them navigate that life.
So if you have a teenager who’s interested in attending acting schools in Michigan and you live a workable distance from Fraser, MI, then take advantage of everything Arts Academy in the Woods has to offer.
Contact us today to request a tour of our school. At AAW, we see every student as a star.