College of Lake County students will raise virtual curtain on fall play
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing the theater community to stretch its creativity even more than usual.
Libertyville High School held a drive-through play last week, and St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights is holding parking lot performances this week.
The College of Lake County has opted for online performances. A cast of four, directed by Alicia Hall, will perform Hans Christian Anderson's "The Emperor's New Clothes" over Zoom this weekend.
The production, running Thursday through Sunday, is adapted by Max Bush for young audiences.
There are several challenges the cast and crew face, including the lack of a live audience, set design, working with green screens and costumes.
"Our student actors have to engage their imaginations a lot more than they normally would to create their fellow actors in their shared space," Hall said. "Green screen acting is some of the hardest work they'll ever have to do."
The cast members are Elijah Janssen-Weitz (Emperor), Helen Murphy (Captain), Coopers Sampson (Nicolas) and Olivia Lyjak (Louise).
More than 100 families have registered to watch the free performances.
"I think having this performance now allows us to have a shared community event, and that is really important, even if we aren't all in the same physical space, we're still connected through Zoom," Hall said.
"We also really need to support the performing arts right now. Our theater students need that, and we as theater-makers need it as well. All of the performing arts have been greatly impacted by the pandemic."
Performances are at 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 1 and 2; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
Viewers must register online at www.clcillinois.edu/arts.