A production of Godspell in New England adhered to strict Equity guidelines by submitting detailed health and safety plans. Elsewhere, Broadway artists—led by Tony-nominated director Michael Arden—went upstate to experiment with a variety of production techniques. And in the Bronx, teens at a JCC presented Rent: School Edition.
Here’s how theatre is evolving in this pandemic, proving that the show can—and will—go on.
5 comments:
Reading about the fight that Gerry McIntyre lead to get his production of Godspell at the Berkshire Theatre Group in Pittsfield, MA, leaves me both inspired and exhausted about the argument of live theatre during the pandemic. On one hand, I strongly believe that doing something to keep the craft alive is so vital to the survival of live performances after the pandemic- but on the other hand, I feel like the amount of red tape and safety precautions leaves so little to the imagination and art of it all. McIntyre had to direct a performance with “no physical touching at all—no kissing, no lifts, nothing” (Playbill). Working now on a ‘zoom’ production myself, I almost wonder why bother at all- everything has to be so heavily modified and planned that it takes away the passion for creating art at all. Maybe I am cynical because of pandemic burnout, but I wonder if these productions are ‘worth it’. Are ticket costs covering the extra precautions? Can you really be sure that the whole production team is following protocol- even after rehearsals when no one is watching them? And due to the nature of Covid-19, is there even a way to ensure the cast and crew never came into contact with the virus, whether from each other or the audience? I want to see art and theatre succeed- but I wonder, at what risk?
Although I am happy that these people are performing art, I think it is a bit too soon to start in person productions of shows. The safety of the performers is always the most important part of any performance and I think that these performers have an unnecessarily high risk while performing. Although there are rules requiring the use of masks and social distancing, I think these rules could be easily broken off stage and continue the spread of COVID-19. Also, the ‘super spreading’ events have generally happened when people are singing together. I would venture to guess that even with the social distancing guidelines, some people may still get infected with COVID-19. Also, there are some big indicators in the theatre industry that we clearly should not be opening shows. The first is that Broadway is completely closed down. I don’t understand how it wouldn’t be okay for Broadway to open but for these other shows, it is okay. The second is that most colleges and universities with a theatre program have decided to not open any shows this year. You’d think these two actions would be a major indicator that there may be a higher risk than you realize with opening a show.
I am excited about people being able to explore theatre! However, I think that we all need to just take a beat here. I feel that frustration of seeing so many other institutions re-open in limited capacity, and still not being able to do anything with theatre. I understand that we want our industry to survive, and, the longer we sit in quarantine, the farther we feel from being able to come back. The thing is, it isn’t hard to put actors in a room right now. Everyone wears masks, you do tablework, you create a bubble for the cast and everyone in the room. The problem comes when you put these people in the theatre. Managing all of the contact between technicians, creatives, actors, and eventually audiences, is simply not possible, and, honestly, it will not be as fulfilling as theatre is because it doesn’t have those moments that we look for, like cramming into audience seats next to friends and strangers, rushing to the bathroom, navigating a crowded lobby. The feeling is gone. So, be safe, and wait until you can really come back.
I belive that while I miss theater dearly, now is not the time to start in person productions. It puts the cast, crew, and audience members at risk. In an idea world it could be done potentially safely but it is not an idea world. Theaters are not built to accomodate social distacing both on stage and off. It also places immense pressure on actors and crew to perform with such a high risk. I think that also people often forget that wearing masks isn't a 100% fail safe method. That is why social distancing and mask wearing is of the uptmost importance. I think that while Zoom isn't ideal for theater or for life in general at this moment it is the safest and best platform available. In a time where hospital beds are limited, there is no vaccine, and no cure available I think that live productions of theater do no good with the current situation and are an unnessesary added risk.
Stage managers were mentioned a few times in this article and it started to make me think about conversations that were being had among AEA stage managers. A lot of conversations I had been a part of had been geared toward ensuing that the stage manager was not the “covid police” as some called it. The AEA Stage Manager for Godspell here was mentioned as reminding the choreographer about rules and such, which is pretty common for a stage manager to do anyway. It does make me wonder though if this is a little different as these are rules that directly affect the health and, not to be dramatic, the lives of other humans. Someone has to enforce these and it does make sense in a way that it is the stage manager who typically is the one looking out for everyone anyway. The same stage manager for Godspell is also mentioned as the one sanitizing ALL props…is that the case when they move into performance or does that then move to a crew member? Who is then in charge of ensuring that happens correctly and often enough?
Moving theatre into a covid era is going to cause a lot of shifting in what the stage manager does and doesn’t do during rehearsal and performances, and I am hoping that what does get added to our plates also comes with protections for ourselves, too (both legal and health).
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