Read between the lines

Fine arts department finds ways to still perform during pandemic

Noah Bickley
Setting a scene // Painting the set for the upcoming show, Midsummer Night’s Dream, sophomore Jude Kurtz adds his finishing touches to the set building. Thespians will perform Shakespeare in the Park Monday, Oct. 12 at Founders Park.

writer: Jaylee Paredes, Staff Reporter
October 2, 2020

From a crowded auditorium, with bowing and applause, to empty rows of seats and socially-distanced audience members, theatre performances will look quite different this year.

This is the first time the theatre, choir and dance departments have to perform a musical during a pandemic.They are performing Shakespeare in the Park at Community Park by Burnett Junior High for their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Oct. 12th at 6 p.m. The first performance is outdoors to allow safer conditions for their audience and their performers. 

“We are looking forward to this experience,” Theatre teacher, Bekka Glaze, said. 

Auditions have also had their share of accommodations. The theatre department tried to do as much as they could during class, but auditions and practices had to be held online.  Pre-Covid-19, 30 to 40 people would audition at a time, but now, only five to six people can audition at once to maintain social distancing.

“I think it is important that we mitigate our risk as much as possible and we weren’t sure if we’d see cases come up the first few weeks of school,” Mrs. Glaze said.

Masks and social distancing on stage will have a huge effect on the performances. The actors have to project their voices through their masks.

“Social distancing is also very hard when they are blocking, especially for scenes where touch is so important,” sophomore Crei Pierson said.

Blocking is the actor’s choreography, such as walking across the stage or sitting down in a chair.

“It’s really hard for us to come together as a collective, but we’re pushing through and we’re still hopefully going to have performances this year,” Pierson said.

Remote learners have to commit to coming to campus for rehearsals and performances. They must also come up to the school for tech calls when there are very few kids present to help work on shows and on helping maintain the theatre.

“We LOVE getting to see them and are so glad they are able to have the opportunity to be with us,” Glaze said.

Theatre will perform Freaky Friday the musical Jan. 21-22 at 7 p.m. and 23 at 3 p.m.