Our reporters have the privilege of covering previews of local high school musicals and other varieties of adolescent performances. Dowagiac was recently host to the Vienna Boys Choir, a centuries old musical tradition and famous touring group, as an early performance of the Dowagiac Fine Arts Festival. This weekend, Edwardsburg High School will present its production of “Shrek the Musical,” and Dowagiac Middle School and Dowagiac Union High students will present “Beauty and the Beast.”

While any director will comment on the joy of working on a specific show, so too will they speak to their belief in the power and importance of the performing arts in general. Whether it is an international touring group or a small-town production of a famous musical, these youth directors see involvement in performing arts as more than just good opportunities. They are invaluable experiences for developing people and minds.

Studies continue to show the striking stimulation and activity in the brains and bodies of performers. Unison singing, harmonies and even taking a starting breath together can develop profound psychological connections and even sync heartbeats. Dancing, acting and focusing solely on a performance at hand places the mind in an alternate state of focus, which can be transferred to other tasks in life as a result.

Furthermore, studies, child development specialists and, of course, performance directors continue to discover how involvement in the performing arts prepares children well for basic societal function. Children who are placed on a stage before an audience with memorized lines, moves and music are more likely to become concise communicators, confident and clear presenters and prepared workers.

The communal component of the performing arts is the most obvious benefit for children and teenagers. Performances, especially in groups like choirs, bands and casts, invariably create bonds between performers by nature of the activity. The comradery, affection and connection cultivated through backstage tomfoolery, rehearsals and touring shows children to value not only what they do, but who they are doing it with.

The often-overlooked communal component, however, is the audience. Rightly so, performers and supporting production team receive all the glory and praise for a show well-made and performance well executed. But the audience is too rarely identified as part of the performance itself. The obvious observation is that without an audience, there would be no performance. The lesser spotted observation is that without audience participation and reaction, the performance might as well be for an empty room.

Performers work in the fine art of developing characters, creating dynamic musical numbers and creating entertaining visuals. Sometimes, that work is enough and will make a fine show. Professionals know, however, placing oneself in the audience and contemplating how a specific movement or line will most affect the audience is the real fine tuning. Will this interaction make them laugh or cry? Is the dynamic contrast enough to make their hearts jump? Will they catch this fleeting piece of wit and humor?

The age of TV and every subsequent form of mindless staring at a box has somewhat diminished the intelligence of the audience member, however. Western culture has oriented its entertainment toward inactive indulgence and no longer emphasizes active listening and focused observation. There is no exchange while watching “Game of Thrones” or “Friends” or the latest Marvel movie, but live performances are an interaction. When the Vienna Boys Choir cuts off their last note, the audience claps. When Donkey cracks a witty line at Shrek, the audience laughs. When Beast (spoiler alert) sets Belle free even though it means he will be trapped in the enchanted castle forever, the audience sheds silent tears.

These performances should be valued by the audience not only for their quality, but also for their performers. Watching the VBC is not just about hearing fine music, it’s the observation of young men creating psychological bonds. Watching Donkey deliver his wisecrack is not just amusing, it’s encouraging because the actor is learning in real time about the subtle art of wit. Watching Beast and Belle overcome their insecurities is not just about a lovely performance, it’s about two young people learning about forgiveness and grace through story.

Those performances and their actors deserve more than mere attendance and clapping at the end of the show, they deserve active listening, noticeable reactions and supportive communities. When local audiences attend local shows, they are not just adhering to the tired mantra of “support the arts,” they are contributing to the necessary activity of supporting local youth.

Opinions expressed are those of general manager Ambrosia Neldon, managing editor Sarah Culton, sports editor Scott Novak, and reporters Kelsey Hammon and Adam Droscha.