A note on Covid-19:
Live theater is an art form that brings people together into the same space for a unique, yet collective experience. Even a show running night after night with the same script, director, and cast is different each time. The audience is a vital part of this experience -- they are not there to consume your work, but to create it with you. In our previous run of Thou Shalt Not, this became incredibly apparent to us. If you didn’t see our first run, know that we engaged with the audience much more than one might in other pieces. We led the audience through the space and spoke directly with individual patrons, both scripted and candidly. Your response was amazing: Most of our shows were sold out. We had large, excited audiences packed into the small space and with them came a tangible energy. One night (I believe it was a Wednesday), we suddenly had a much smaller audience. And immediately, the show felt changed. It seemed to become much more intimate and exposed. Moments from previous nights landed differently. We were following the same script, but the energy was altered-- smaller, quieter, but static. You could feel the hushed electricity. No night during our first run was any “better” or “worse” than any other. But the experiences were distinct. It instilled in us an understanding that to experience a live show is to experience the human condition in an unreplicable way.
This is why we find live theater to be not only important but integral, especially in a time when so much of our lives happen through a screen. But what happens to live theater in a time like this? Where does it find its place when social distancing is not only encouraged, but required? The unfortunate answer is that we hang tight and do our part in helping end this crisis. This means we stay home to help flatten the curve and decrease exposure. Which, of course, means we cannot engage in our art.
For many of us, theater is not only our passion, but our profession and livelihood. Like many others, COVID-19 has put us out of work. In regards to Thou Shalt Not specifically, we may not be able to have our May run as intended. However, we are passionate about this project and determined to see it happen, whenever or however that may be. We’ve been working hard to determine a game plan and have come up with two primary considerations for how to move forward -- we postpone, or we film. Either way, your help is needed -- perhaps more now than ever before. I encourage you to help support our project in whatever way you can. You will be supporting not only a project that we have put our hearts and souls into, but also your local theater artists during this time of crisis. You can support us by clicking HERE.
We know we are not the only community suffering. Safety and well wishes to you and all of your friends and family.
All of our best,
Thinkery & Verse and the Thou Shalt Not Team
This is why we find live theater to be not only important but integral, especially in a time when so much of our lives happen through a screen. But what happens to live theater in a time like this? Where does it find its place when social distancing is not only encouraged, but required? The unfortunate answer is that we hang tight and do our part in helping end this crisis. This means we stay home to help flatten the curve and decrease exposure. Which, of course, means we cannot engage in our art.
For many of us, theater is not only our passion, but our profession and livelihood. Like many others, COVID-19 has put us out of work. In regards to Thou Shalt Not specifically, we may not be able to have our May run as intended. However, we are passionate about this project and determined to see it happen, whenever or however that may be. We’ve been working hard to determine a game plan and have come up with two primary considerations for how to move forward -- we postpone, or we film. Either way, your help is needed -- perhaps more now than ever before. I encourage you to help support our project in whatever way you can. You will be supporting not only a project that we have put our hearts and souls into, but also your local theater artists during this time of crisis. You can support us by clicking HERE.
We know we are not the only community suffering. Safety and well wishes to you and all of your friends and family.
All of our best,
Thinkery & Verse and the Thou Shalt Not Team
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