Because of COVID-19, Quinnipiac University drama students and Broadway actors have something new in common: they can’t perform live, on stage, as theater is meant to be staged.
But the show must go on, and drama students are doing just that by performing via Zoom using stages and props cobbled together in their rooms. And all of it is live.
“There will be no physical audiences in any shows,” said Kevin Daly, a theater professor and chair of the department. “Instead, we will have our audiences join us through Zoom.”
Daly said that theater classes will be held in the Sherman Avenue building that houses the department and serves as the setting for plays.
“A typical theatre class is about 16 to 17 students,” Daly said. “The theatre can safely hold up to 20 students. Anything more would go against the school’s policy.”
The current population of theater majors at Quinnipiac is about 25, seven of which are incoming freshmen.
Daly said that advanced acting classes are being reconfigured to teach students how to utilize Zoom to their advantage. Students will learn how to use the limited space of a Zoom box to create personal set design and how the barrier of a screen can affect acting choices.
During a performance the audience will be asked to turn their cameras off and mute their mics. They will also be asked to select the “hide non-video participants option.” Then, the actors will have their cameras turned on or off depending on who’s in the scene. Typically they will try to make the space in their camera look like the setting of the particular scene that they are doing. Since movement and interaction is limited on Zoom, a stage manager may read stage directions to an actor for clarity purposes.
Though this process will take some time for students to get used to, Daly said he still thinks that one of the most important aspects of being involved with Quinnipiac theater will still be taught.
“One of the things to keep in mind is why a student is a theater major,” said Daly. “Theater teaches practical skills, so if you’re here for that then you’ll get what you came for. If you’re just here to try and get onto Broadway, well I’ve got some bad news because Broadway’s closed right now.”
Daly said that students who take classes will learn something that is much needed in these troubling times.
“Empathy,” he said. “People lack empathy, especially in a time like this, and in theater you learn to feel empathy.”
The 4th Wall Student Theater said students are familiar with overcoming obstacles and COVID-19 is not powerful enough to stop productions.
“We’re still planning on going forward with our 4th Wall performances through Zoom,” said Nick Fetherston, a senior from Ashland, Massachusetts, and president of the 4th Wall Student Theater. “We’ve already held play readings and auditions through Zoom and we’re finding ways to get around the physical separation.”
The story is a bit different for those on the outside looking in, though. Kaitlyn Kelly, a senior occupational therapy major who has been in multiple plays in the past, said that anyone interested in theater who isn’t an actual theater major will have a tough time as well.
“The longer you’ve been acting, the easier it’ll be for you to make this transition. For many people auditions are already awkward and difficult enough, but social queues are a big part of acting and they’re hard to portray through zoom.”
At the same time, Kelly says she’s glad that the program is still happening.
“Everyone is definitely disappointed, they understand, but QU has been really good at communicating with us,” said Kelly. “I’m just happy we still get to express ourselves.”
Quinnipiac theater students aren’t the only actors making this digital switch. The brand new Legacy Theater in Branford, Connecticut is another example of a theater going digital. The Theater has started a series called Face to Face, a talk show where members of the Legacy Theater talk through Zoom about how to get through these tough times as a performing arts major. The Legacy Theater just finished its latest renovations and plans on having an inaugural season in 2021.