CBS News Poll: Stage struck
Most Americans have not trodden on the boards, even in a high school play -- and it seems that, according to their dreams of bright lights, they never will.
On the day on which Broadway celebrates the greatest talents of the stage with the annual Tony Awards (to be broadcast live on CBS), a CBS News Poll asked Americans if they ever appeared in a high school play; only a third -- 37 percent -- said yes. Sixty-seven percent said no.
Appearing in a high school play seems to have been more of a rite of passage for older Americans; 47 percent of those 65 or older said yes, vs. 35% of those ages 18-64.
Women (at 40 percent) are slightly more likely than men (34 percent) to have performed in a high school play.
And while just over a third of Americans have performed in a high school play, far fewer - just 22 percent -- ever dreamed of becoming an actor, though the dream shines brighter within younger Americans (thanks, perhaps, to "Glee"); 25 percent of those ages 18-64 have dreamed of acting, compared to just seven percent of those 65 and older.
To many, the closest one might get to acting royalty is an autograph, but even then Americans are not interested in getting an autograph from a celebrity; 59 percent said they have never gotten an actor or performer's autograph; only 41 percent said yes.
This poll was conducted by telephone May 14-18, 2014 among 1,011 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, Pa. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.