We spoke with theater director Gavy Kessler about this fall’s play, The Laramie Project, how to rehearse and perform theater safely during the pandemic, the play’s relevance to today’s cultural moment, and how restrictions are actually creating stronger performers.

 

How did you decide on a play this year? 

The two guiding questions that went into play selection were: What can we do safely? And what will speak to the current moment in American politics and in the lives of our students? The Laramie Project emerged as the clear choice; the lack of scenery and the way the actors speak directly to the audience are a perfect fit for physical distancing. Featuring interview text from over seventy-five different characters, the play has lots of opportunities for our cast of twenty young actors. Most importantly, more than 20 years later the murder of Matthew Shepard and the response from the residents of Laramie has much to teach us about the world we are reckoning with now. We get to dig into questions about ongoing violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, the power of protest, religious hypocrisy, and the power of theater/art to heal societal trauma.

 

What do rehearsals look like? What are the protocols in place?

We are rehearsing three days a week, usually with half of the cast at a time. Rehearsals take place in Calder Hall (where we will also perform) due to its large size and ventilation. Actors wear masks at all times during rehearsals and keep six feet apart, just like in the rest of the day. The stage and backstage areas are marked with little pink x’s every six feet so the actors always know exactly where to be in relationship to each other.

 

Will the final performance be masked? 

Yes. The final performance will have actors wearing clear masks. We are still experimenting with what kind we will use and which type of anti-fog spray will work best to keep the clear masks clear.

 

Have you ever directed or acted in a live performance with strictures in place like what we’re seeing now?

This is all new to me. The theater community around the world is experimenting and sharing its successes and failures in producing theater during the times of Covid-19. It does remind me of a performance where I was on stilts for two hours. I had to have a heightened sense of awareness at all times to take into account my physical safety and the safety of others, while also trying to act. I think our students are up to the challenge.

 

Have you noticed the ways in which it strengthens the students’ performance skills?

The cast has definitely had to focus on projection in order to be heard and physicality that can give information about the character even when facial expressions are obstructed.

 

 

How will audiences see the play?

Each performance will have fifty well-spaced seats available for a live audience of students and staff. The show will be streamed online for parents, friends and community members that Sunday on a web-platform called ShowTix4U.

 

Talk about the other art and education pieces that will accompany the performance.

In addition to the performance, cast members are doing research around LGBTQ+ political issues that will be displayed along with student art in a gallery exhibit and online slideshow. The cast will also be meeting with representatives from the Matthew Shepard Foundation and sending a video message to Matthew’s mother Judy Shepard.