Silvermoon Children’s Theatre carries on creatively
TEXARKANA, Texas — In these uncertain times, The Silvermoon Children’s Theatre is doing their part to keep hope and wonder alive in Texarkana.
The show must go on, “Charlotte’s Web” in this case, and SCT is not letting this virus stop them from doing what they love—sharing the joy of live theater with everyone.
The cast had only one face-toface meeting before the government began warning everyone to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID19. With the production set to open at the beginning of May, the directors knew they had to come up with a solution, and fast. Social distancing guidelines, bans on large groups and curfews have forced them to get creative when it comes to rehearsals.
For the past couple of weeks, the SCT has been having “virtual rehearsals” using a videoconferencing service called Zoom. Zoom allows them to “meet” from the comfort and safety of their own homes via audio/video calls. They have never done anything like this before, so it has been a learning experience for all involved.
“Part of being a theater person, or any creative, is the ability to be flexible and learn to tweak and creative in any environment,” director Susannah Linnett says.
Any theater lover will tell you that one of the best parts about theater is the collaboration and camaraderie with fellow actors and crew members. It would be very easy for the cast to feel discouraged by this lack of social interaction, but morale is as high as ever. Morriss and Meredith Farren, company manager, have been impressed with the cast’s adaptability and positive attitudes.
“I have been so proud of our kids,” Farren said. “They are showing dedication and determination in learning new things and continuing on in the face of adversity.”
Because they cannot truly block a show without access to the rehearsal space, the cast works through the script together, running lines and developing their characters. “Blocking” refers to the assigned movements a character makes during the show. Blocking includes when, where and how the actors move and interact with each other and the set.
This method may not be ideal, but it does have its advantages. Farren feels that focusing solely on the material has led to faster character development than a traditional rehearsal. Because the actors are only required to participate in the video calls if they are in the scene, the smaller groups also allow direction to be more concentrated.
The Silvermoon Children’s
Theatre’s production of “Charlotte’s Web” is slated to run Thursday, May 7, through Sunday, May 10. Farren says they hope to keep to their original schedule, but they are trying to remain flexible.
When they aren’t rehearsing, the SCT is finding other ways to share theater with Texarkana. Farren and Linnett came up with the idea to do mini virtual theater classes. Farren says the company feels that giving kids something to look forward to, a way to hang out with theater friends and an outlet for creative thinking are a winning combination.
“We feel very strongly that keeping things as normal as possible may help calm fears kids may have and give them hope that things will return to normal soon,” Farren continued.
These virtual classes, which they’re calling “play dates,” take place twice a week.
During these 45-minute real-time audio/ video sessions, they lead participants through a series of activities designed to encourage them to think outside the box as they use the arts to “dream, explore and imagine together.”
“This is definitely a unique situation that these kiddos, and us, have never been in before,” Linnett said. “But what a great life lesson to continue, to find a new way, to push on in our creativity and community.”
In the first class session, the group worked through a story together, discussing plot and plot twists, as well as what makes a strong character and story. As they “dream” together, they listen to music and express their ideas through drawings.
They incorporated science into the second session, as they followed a personified raindrop through the water cycle. The discussion for this class centered on what it would feel like to be an inanimate object. According to Farren, she and Linnett are enjoying these classes just as much as the children are.
“We love hanging out with the kids, hearing their ideas and seeing their creativity,” Farren said. “Doing this makes me smile and has been a highlight of my week.”
These “play dates” will continue at 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, ending on April 9. If your child is interested in taking part in one or more of these sessions, the link to register can be found on the Silvermoon Children’s Theatre Facebook page. Each session costs $12 per child. However, if your child has a sibling in the same house, they can participate for free as long as are in the same age group.
In addition to virtual rehearsals and theater classes, the SCT is taking this time to further strengthen their online presence on other platforms. When they aren’t sharing rehearsal updates on “Charlotte’s Web” on their Facebook page, they are posting links to sites where you can enjoy free theater content, like professionally filmed stage plays and musicals.
They are also making an effort to spotlight theater kids everywhere, sharing content made by SCT kids and kids from other theater companies. They also like to play fun interactive games with their followers, such as “Guess That Show.” They frequently post pictures from past productions, and ask followers to name the play and share a treasured memory from it.
They are making every effort to spread positivity and light during this difficult time.
“Art may not be mandatory or ‘essential’ as the current definition goes, but life without creativity, in any form, would be very dull,” Farren added, “Art helps make life worth living.”