Theater vs Theatre: An Absolutely Definitive Opinion Maybe

I have opinions. I like dark roast coffee over the lighter versions, even at the risk of being snubbed by my hipper caffeine cohorts. I prefer driving the speed limit too, which is why I probably wouldn’t be welcome in LA. Super spicy foods also land on my no-go list. Any food whose primary appeal is pain is a food I’ll pass on. I also generally dislike rap. Of course, if somebody came up with an urban, ear-thumping version of Robert Frost’s poetry I might reconsider. No, probably not.

But I am a word fanatic. I love grammar and really good writing. Words matter to me, which is why I have this tiny little issue with the way things get spelled, notably how we spell “theater.” Since I don’t have a real job, I’ve spent some time thinking about this, and though I know there are other perspectives out there, I figured I’d just put my cards on the table and let the chips fall where they may.

Denotatively, theatre and theater mean the same thing. Theater is the Americanized spelling of the Anglicized theatre. (Think color vs colour or humor vs humour.) Technically, theatre and theater are interchangeable in any context, except perhaps in London’s West End where they’re still sensitive about the American independence thing. For the record, I always prefer the Americanized spelling; it feels less pretentious.

Connotatively, however, I think there is a difference. I think of theater as referring to the specific space where something is performed: She spends most of her free time at our community theater. The show opened at the Broadway Theatre, which is a Broadway theater. (I personally think that, as an American institution, the real Broadway Theatre in New York should use the “-er” ending. But they didn’t ask me.) For me, theater refers to a definite place.

Theatre, on the other hand, signifies the abstract concept that is the performing arts: Theatre is an imitation of life. There is so much theatre in her personality. He goes to the local theater to experience theatre. But even in this case I have my reservations. I’d prefer American universities to offer theater programs and for American kids to be introduced to the theater arts. But, again, nobody asked me.

On the whole, and in most cases, I prefer the Americanized theater. I can’t help it. The Anglicized theatre always feels a bit posey to me. You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion in this matter, even if it’s wrong. This is America after all.