"Aristotle wrote about the cathartic experience of theater. This is an art form that acts out the stories of our lives, our dreams, our hopes, and our communities. At the heart of theater lies universal human emotion, which transcends any specific level of education, income, race, or geography. It is so incredibly powerful to see ourselves reflected on a stage, and know that we are not alone in our experiences. And it’s equally powerful to see an experience that’s completely different than our own, and yet recognizable." -NEA Chairman Jane Chu, speaking at the Theatre Communications Group National Conference