Your Favorite Musical Isn’t Happening This Season (and 2 others ways your theatre program might change)
Your Favorite Musical Isn’t Happening this Season (and 2 other ways your theatre program might change)
October 5, 2020
Around the country, some theatre programs have been resuming their in-person activities. As they’re doing this, they’re obviously following the procedures that everyone’s been talking about for months such as social distancing, wearing masks, taking temperatures, cleaning, etc.
Beyond those things, there are a few ways the current situation we’re in might change your program this season.
Large Casts Are a Thing of the Past
As a part of social distancing, it’s been recommended that the people at a rehearsal should be limited to only those who absolutely need to be there at that time so there aren’t a lot of people just waiting around. Rehearsal times could also be staggered so that different people would be there in shifts.
During the rehearsals, break times should be scheduled in shifts, too. This will help minimize the number of people congregating at one time.
To make all of this easier, plays with small casts may be favored over ones with larger casts.
To make all of this easier, plays with small casts may be favored over ones with larger casts. Click To TweetThe Year of the Play
Due to restrictions on singing without increased social distancing, programs will more than likely be opting for plays over musicals. The second issue also may be that your audiences will most likely be smaller and more spread out in the house so you may need to consider how you are going to still make it possible for everyone to be a part of the experience and hear what is being acted out.
Due to restrictions on singing without increased social distancing, programs will more than likely be opting for plays over musicals. Click To Tweet
Voice amplification may be your best choice. Microphones may need to be used this year to supplement the actor’s and actresses’ natural amplification. If this is the case with your program, microphones should be disinfected between individual uses.
Unmasking
The unmasking is an important part of so many plays. It’s when we discover who the hero is, but this year we might not get to find out.
Depending on your local and state guidelines, masks may or may not be required. These would have to be worn with the costume. If this is your case, you may opt to choose a play that doesn’t feature an unmasking.
Even though it might look a bit different, with these adjustments, your program can return to a bit of normalcy. If you’re part of a school or university, being able to return to these in-person events is huge because it’s such a vital part of your students’ education.
The specifics for your program will look different based on a variety of different factors but the important thing is to make sure you’re following your local recommendations to help keep everyone safe, so that we can start to enjoy live events now and into the future.
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