How to Put on a Play: COVID-19 Style!
I don’t think I need to tell anyone that this semester is far from normal. No one really planned the effect that COVID-19 would have on not just the TFC community, but the entire country and world. Social distancing, while necessary for the safety of the TFC community, is making things a little difficult for the clubs that thrive off of close contact with others. The Theatrical Society at TFC is particularly impacted due to this. Many students on campus have taken joy in seeing past shows like "Pride and Prejudice," "I Hate Shakespeare" and "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." The actors for these plays were required to be in close contact with each other in a way the current semester is not able to provide. The officers in charge of this semester were not even sure that we would be able to have a 2020 Fall play until a few weeks before the start of the semester. Thankfully, God has provided a way.
A normal stage play was out of the question. Even if the play was able to be held on or off-campus, COVID-19 made the idea too dangerous for both the audience and the crew. The shortened semester also made a stage play difficult due to the amount of time necessary to prepare for the performance, which would normally be rehearsed for weeks before a three-day show run. Thankfully, directors Margaret Broom and Catherine Schoolcraft came up with an alternative solution. This fall, the Theatrical Society at TFC will be performing a radio play version of "It’s a Wonderful Life!"
Most people know the story from the famous 1946 Christmas film, but allow me to give you a recap. The story follows a man named George Bailey who has grown depressed at his life and makes a wish that he was never born. The wish is heard by Clarence, his guardian angel, who grants it and then precedes to show George the reality of his request. Over the journey, George learns to value his life and his loved ones and returns to his life with a sense of true joy. Now, the play will be a lot shorter than the movie which has a grand running total of one-hundred and thirty-five minutes. The play will only last about thirty to forty-five minutes.
As mentioned, the show will be a radio play. The actors chosen will be taught how to voice act and will then spend a day in the studio, recording the show scene by scene. The scenes will then be edited together by the crew and aired by TFC’s own Eagle Radio in November, though the exact dates and times have not yet been decided on. The Theatrical Society will be announcing the dates and times as soon as they are official. We hope you all will tune in and enjoy the fantastic performance that is sure to be delivered!
As a final note, Catherine Schoolcraft and Margaret Broom are still looking for their lead, George Bailey, and are still interested in having guys audition. If you are interested, please email Catherine at CatherineSchoolcraft@tfc.edu for more details!