Like many theatre programs across the country, the students and teachers in the Empire High School Theatre Department were absolutely heartbroken when they had to cancel THREE shows due to coronavirus. However, they are not letting it stop their creativity and learning! They announced on their Facebook page that they have pivoted to a brand new show that they will be premiering the performance this Friday on YouTube!
Richard Gremel is a local actor, playwright, and the drama teacher at Empire High School. He has been working hard to give his students a chance to perform despite all the roadblocks they have come up against.
When asked about the new show, Stranded: Views from Quarantine, he said,
The play came to be out of necessity. I had to cancel three shows because of the virus, but I didn't want my seniors to go without one last performance. So we got together over zoom and worked to put together this show. The script is from a publisher who asked their playwrights to write a monologue that could be performed online and needed to be centered around a quarantined cruise ship. There are a couple of my monolouges in as well. The students and I have been rehearsing for a couple weeks. We all meet on zoom, they perform, and I give feedback and notes. This week they will record their performance, and I will put it together into one YouTube video.
Ultimately, I just wanted a chance to be able to create and collaborate with my students, even though we can't meet in person. For many of the students, Theatre is the reason they come to school each day, and this is helping to keep them engaged and keep their morale up during this time. I also think it's great for our community because it will give us a chance to come together, from our own homes, to share in this experience. Just like our normal shows bring the community together.
Richard says his favorite part is staying connected with his students.
My favorite part of it isn't doing the show or rehearsals, but just getting to be on zoom with my students a few times a week where we can share stories, laugh, cry, have fun, and just continue to build on the family community that Theatre offers to these students and that they are missing so much.
As a theatre lover myself, it really makes me happy to see this level of community and family here in southern Arizona.
Keep an eye out for their digital premier this Friday. Break legs, guys!!