During the last century, appreciation courses and theatre departments have gained a place in community colleges. An examination of current textbooks reveals that pedagogical approaches to introductory theatre courses have focused on fostering an understanding of the history and the "poetics" of theatre. While this avenue is useful, I propose that introductory courses can have a more profound effect on students and the community through the practical application of course content. Through theatre, community colleges can teach students to be leaders in society. That is, colleges have an opportunity to prepare students to discharge successfully their civic responsibilities, and even one semester's work in theatre fundamentals can culminate in the fulfillment of that goal.