What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1294363
OctOber 4-10, 2020 What's up! 3 Intermission Is Over! BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette L ike every arts organization in every community, when TheatreSquared made its updated season announcement last week, it had good news and bad news. The bad news — which, of course, isn't all bad — is that the first fall production, "Ann," will happen online, not on stage. "We're committed to creating the safest environment for our patrons to experience live theater during this crisis," says T2 spokeswoman Joanna Sheehan Bell. "Fayetteville has seen a jump in positive cases, and our health experts and representatives from the actors' union advised that we'd need to wait to safely resume in-person performances." Then there's the good news. "The numbers have started to move in the right direction," Bell adds, "and we're on track to resume safely distanced seating in person in time for our November performance dates. In the meantime, we're fortunately able to use our new high-definition, multi-camera broadcast setup to offer an intimate, filmed experience of 'Ann' for our patrons directly from the Spring Theatre." T2 Executive Director Martin Miller thinks audiences will find that new technology impressive. "Anyone who's experienced the Met Opera's Live in HD performances — or who tuned in for our live concert by Larry Mitchell in August — will know what to expect from our new broadcast-quality setup," Miller says. "Patrons will be sent a special link to a password-protected site, which they can watch on their laptops, tablets, mobile devices, or mirrored to their smart TV. "TheatreSquared has been one of the first theaters in the country to live-edit and live- stream a Zoom production replete with top-to-bottom special effects; to install a broadcast-quality four- camera setup and film a live performance on a contract with the film actors' union, SAG-AFTRA; and to be on the verge of offering a 'hybrid' live performance model with socially distanced seating and concurrent viewing by audiences at home," Miller goes on. "We're not resting, we're innovating, and it's all thanks to the remarkable and diverse group of artists and professionals who make up TheatreSquared. The best decision we've made to date in this crisis is continuing to invest in this hardworking team, and our region and field are benefiting from their agility and dedication." Miller says he's been on the phone every week with leaders of theaters from across the country, "and the experiences and protocols TheatreSquared has piloted are being shared and carried back to communities from Florida to Oregon. We're benefiting as well from this fieldwide community and their own experiments as we all seek to adapt during this challenging time." In addition to the digital option, TheatreSquared has spent time and effort on t2 returns with hybrid theater plan "Ann," the first production in the new post-covid season for theatresquared, will star texas- based actor sally edmundson as texas politician ann richards in a high-tech online offering. (courtesy photo/Wesley hitt) Cover Story See T2 Page 4