Theatre kid

The child cast of a production of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant

A theatre kid or theater kid is a common stereotype of a young actor, usually a student, who openly displays a talent and/or passion for performance.[1] Common traits associated with the stereotype include obsession with or devotion to school plays,[2] the tendency to spontaneously perform or quote lyrics in everyday social situations,[3][4] and a personal obsession with musicals.[4]

In popular culture

Examples of the theatre kid stereotype have appeared in various film and television productions, including Glee and High School Musical.[5][6] A "theatre kid" subculture exists on TikTok,[7] with The Michigan Daily noting that the content posted to the "theatrekid" tag (and related topics) has amassed billions of views.[8]

Notable examples

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Andrew Garfield called himself a theatre kid, saying "I wear that badge proudly."[9] Rachel Zegler has identified with the label.[10][11]

References

1. Yates, Maggie (2023-03-17). "'Our Time: Celebrating High School Theater Kids Gone Pro'". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
2. "The portrait of a "theater kid"". Die Bärliner. 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
3. "22 Things Only Theatre Kids Understand". Teen Vogue. 2015-11-14. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
4. Ambuul, Brigid. "The Mythos of The Theater Kid, Debunked". Crimson. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
5. "When 'High School Musical 2' Made Theater Kids Cool". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
6. Chaney, Jen (2018-04-19). "Theater Kids Are Everywhere on TV and in Movies". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
7. Dickson, E. J. (2022-04-24). "Theater Kids Everywhere Are Obsessing Over This New TikTok Trend". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
8. Carapellotti, Hannah (2022-04-05). "Can TikTok help make musical theatre more inclusive?". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
9. "Andrew Garfield Loves Jonathan Larson and Lying About Spider-Man". Vanity Fair. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
10. "Rachel Zegler, 'West Side Story's New Maria, Made Her Met Gala Debut". ELLE. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
11. McDougall, A. J. (2022-01-23). "Why Do So Many People Hate Rachel Zegler?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-04-20.