Passage One

　　A community theatre is an important part of almost every city or town in the United States. There are over 2,000 community theatres in the United States today, about 4.5 million people work or perform in these theatres for an audience of more than 50 million people annually. These theatres are amateur organizations and are different for professional theatre companies. A community theatre may have its own building or perform in a school or church hall. The actors and actresses do not receive money for their work in the community theatre. They have other jobs to support themselves instead. Small communities can't support a full time theatre. They cannot pay actors, directors or stage workers, so the theatre participants work for free. One purpose of community theatre is to provide an opportunity for creative work. Many people join in community theatres because they wan to perform or to be creative. Several people in a community theatre group were asked why they join. Each one said he or she needed to do creative, to be something original. One man said, "I loved act. It's the only time I feel alive." Another said, "I have a very boring job. In the play, I can create something." One woman said, "My whole life is occupied by husband and family. I need something more than that." Another purpose of community theatre is to educate and improve the community. Theatre is an art but also introduces new ideas to the audience.
11. How many people participate in the work of community theatres in the United States?
12. How are community theatres different from professional theatre companies?
13. What opportunity does the community theatre provide to the people in a community?