L-EHS students open virtual play

TEXARKANA, Texas — Liberty-Eylau High School’s theater company will hold a special video presentation of the play “10 Ways to Survive Life in a Quarantine” through virtual platforms starting at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The play, written by Texas playwright Don Zolidas, entails some of the many ways people can keep occupied at home during a quarantine — although theater instructor Kate Chambers says they may not all be what you’d expect.

“‘Ten Ways to Survive Life in a Quarantine’ outlines multiple — not always realistic — ways that people can survive these trying times, from watching squirrels at the window, taking up origami or binge-watching Netflix while lying in bed for days on end,” Chambers said. “(Zolidas) has been fantastic about not only writing new shows like this but has also adapted quite a few of his shows to suit the need for distanced actors and/or streaming shows.”

All the segments were recorded and edited in class.

Chambers said preparing for a virtual presentation of a play was unique, but she and her students are pumped to provide a product everyone can watch from the comfort of their own homes.

“We are so excited to stream it,” she said. “We started auditioning as soon as school began and went through the full rehearsal process in our technical theater class, just as we would have a normal show. But the show is largely individual pieces, outside of the two hosts, so students were able to distance from each other. With the virtual format we are able to show it to all our family and friends from the safety of their homes.”

Communications Director Matt Fry said the play will be livestreamed on L-E’s YouTube and Facebook pages, and it is free to the public. The audience will be able to comment on the show as they watch it unfold.

“It’ll be really fun,” Fry said. “The kids did a good job with it.”