News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2020-07-21-theatre
July 21, 2020
Theatre Department Goes Virtual
While the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered playhouses and theaters across the country,
the College of the Canyons Theatre Department has found a way for the show to go on.
The department has announced three virtual performance opportunities for students
during the Fall 2020 semester: “110 Stories,” “Woyzeck” and a new devised piece based
on student experiences during the pandemic.
To ensure the safety of performers, faculty and staff, all the performances will be
rehearsed and presented through live video.
“We are dedicated to continuing our commitment to our students and their educational
goals”, said Jennifer Smolos, dean of the college’s School of Visual and Performing
Arts. “While many other colleges and programs have postponed or cancelled performances
and performance-based training courses, we continue our work to find innovative ways
to adapt to this new learning environment. Flexibility is paramount for artists and
it remains very important to us that we make virtual performance opportunities available
to our students.”
Auditions will be held during the first week of classes and are open to all. Auditions
will also be held virtually, with online auditions forms, recorded monologues and
ZOOM audition slots.
“These are three very different pieces, with different experiences for our students”
said David Stears, producer for the theatre department. “While we are not on stage,
there are still tremendous opportunities for training and learning. The rudimental
basics of performance don’t change with the medium. This is a new emerging medium
and we are training our students to embrace it.”
The College of the Canyons Theatre program is a highly respected, foundational theatre
training program, offering programs and degrees in performance, theatrical theatre,
and theatre transfer degrees.
“Many of the Theatre Department classes count towards Humanities credit for CSU or
UC schools”, said Christopher Boltz, chair of the college’s theatre department and
head of the technical theatre program. “Our students leave us with an associate’s
degree and transfer in as third year students at many programs throughout the state.”
About the Performances
Written by Sarah Tuft and directed by Maureen Huskey, “110 Stories” takes the audience
through 9/11 as told by those who were there. Based on interviews, this docu-play
weaves together stories not shown on the news, from people we can relate to: a mother,
a photojournalist, an ironworker, a chiropractor, and a homeless man who saved lives
that day. This honest and occasionally funny play captures the shock and horror of
9/11 along with its aftermath.
Directed by David Stears, “Woyzeck” is a working class tragedy of the dehumanizing
effects of doctors and the military on a young man's life. Left unfinished at Georg
Büchner’s death, the play had an enormous impact on realism, naturalism, and expressionist
movements in theatre and literature. The play’s “choose your own adventure” format
will allow audience members to choose their own path as they journey through the story.
The performance will be recorded.
Susan Hinshaw will direct a new devised piece with students that focuses on this unique
time in history—a time of upheaval, turmoil and great social change. The pandemic
has given rise to many things including a new and budding art form: live video theatre.
Student actors will take on this challenge by writing, performing and producing a
completely original show based on their experiences during the pandemic. The performance
will be a dynamic and fully staged live video theatre event.