Office of University Communications 

Professor's book focuses on ecological change

SPRINGFIELD — Kurt Heinlein, assistant professor of theatre and dance at Missouri State University, recently published the book “Green Theatre — Promoting Ecological Preservation and Advancing the Sustainability of Human and Nature.”

The book addresses an aspect of the theatre world that has yet to be fully acknowledged.

“There are some papers that have been written about the subject, but no books that I know of until now,” Heinlein said.

Examining how theatre production can be used to draw people’s attention to ecological change and environmental problems that are facing society is a focus of the book. By taking the concept of sustainability and setting it as the backdrop for theatre performance, Heinlein hopes to strike a chord with the audience’s inner connection with nature.

“Theatre can be used to rethink about the way we live,” said Heinlein. “Green issues are something that traditionally seem to be looked at from a scientific standpoint. We need to start looking at some of the non-traditional ways to look at green issues like ‘green theatre.’”

Throughout the 240 pages of “Green Theatre,” Heinlein discusses themes that have been successful in green theatre and how select green performers, such as the popular Las Vegas show the Blue Man Group, have been able to thrive. Heinlein also addresses the successes and failures in green theatre and tries to show how green themes need to be presented in order to gain acceptance from the audience.

Heinlein hopes that his book will help some people realize that they can do more to help preserve the environment. “Everyone knows that there needs to be change. The only two real questions that exist are: one, will we think about changing and two, will we change?”