Keenan believes educational theatre has three pillars, and each pillar comes with a director responsibility: Opportunity, Growth, and Professionalism. Especially in high schools students, prominant roles and theatrical opportunities an be scarse. It is an educational directors reponsibility to evaluate the members of a department (performance and technical), and ask where there are opportunities for growth in each individual. The director must put their artistic vision aside and understand the difference between professional theatre and educational theatre, and must treat casting and hiring accordingly.

The second pillar, growth, is self explanatory. In educational theatre, whether it be high school or college, we are training and developing actors and technicians. Whether it be through direction style, excersises, or show choice, growth and imporvement must always be the primary focus of educational theatre. Educational theatre is also an opportunity for young actors and technicians to find themselves and grow as humans in an artistic and meaningful way. And of course, you cannot have growth without challenging and new opportunities, and the third pillar - professionalism.

Professionalism is what gives students, directors, and technicians the space to work on their craft. Not only does professionalism heighten growth and development, it also prepares young actors for the professional world of theatre (or at least introduces them). Through professionalism, young actors and technicians will have a safe space to perform, build, learn, and take risks without fear of judgement. Through professionalism, young actors and technicians will learn their rights. And most importantly, through professionalism, young actors will have a safe space to have fun.