Can Broadway musicals drive social change? | Julia Dunetz | TEDxCornell
The speaker's lifelong love for stories began at age seven after seeing "Wicked," which deeply moved them and ignited a passion for theater. This passion evolved from a hobby into a profession, leading them to become a commercial theater producer, working on over 30 Broadway shows and earning a Tony Award. While enjoying both the creative and business aspects of theater, their favorite part is witnessing how stories impact an audience, realizing early in their career that art transcends mere entertainment and serves as a powerful tool for social change.
About five years ago, the speaker joined Level Forward, a story-driven, impact-minded entertainment company focused on advancing social progress through theater, film, and television. The company aims to foster brave conversations and create lasting impact by instigating critical thinking, increasing visibility, and bringing people together. The speaker emphasizes that storytelling's impact falls into two categories: stories that help individuals see themselves or parts of their identities in new ways, and stories that help them understand others, building empathy.
