ABSTRACT
The myth of the mad genius is pernicious and ultimately harmful for the artist. It is easy to hear stories of legends who suffered for their art and went through extensive loss or bouts of poor mental health. The actual evidence for any of these ideas being true is shockingly sparse. Pursuing the arts can help your body, mind, and soul. Nevertheless, many aspiring theatrical artists feel like they must make a Faustian bargain and sell their souls, well-being, and happiness in order to find success. However, the existence of brilliant but troubled creators does not mean that their challenges in any way helped their careers. Successful artists who are happy and content may not yield exciting headlines but are much more common. We encourage our readers to not suffer needlessly. Your art should be a source of joy and satisfaction, not an ambition that requires an entrance fee.
