The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
The show must go on: Live theater returns
High school moves performance to gym, makes other changes
When Steve Couch set out to direct “Chicago: High School Edition” for the Madison High School Performing Arts, he did not expect it to take six months before the cast took the stage. He also didn’t expect the performance to take place in the Madison High School gymnasium.
Originally set to be performed in the spring of 2020, the novel coronavirus pandemic put a halt on production for not only Madison High School but performing arts across the country.
“We were mostly installed,” Couch said. “And then we couldn’t do anything for six months”
On Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m., the Madison High School performing arts group took the stage at the high school’s gymnasium floor at 3100 Burns Road and performed “Chicago: High School Edition,” marking the first performing arts show in the community since the pandemic.
“It was a very different experience than we’re used to,” said Madison High School senior Rachel Garvin who played Velma Kelly.
Ty pically, the Madison High School Performing Arts would perform at Rabbit Run Theatre at 5648 Chapel Road in Madison. However, renovations to the theatre and restrictions placed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine gave Couch the idea to move the performance to the gymnasium. With the guidelines set in place by DeWine where there is a cap of 300 people or 15 percent capacity, whichever comes first, only 38 people would have been able to sit in the audience at Rabbit Run. However, following the regulations meant the Madison High School gymnasium would be able to seat 250 people.
The gymnasium was set up with the stage in the center of the gym floor. The east side bleachers were pulled out for the audience and marked with Xs. Families were able to sit in between the Xs.
Unlike standard shows, the “Chicago: High School Edition” per for mance did not offer an intermission. No post-show speech was given. After the show ended, the cast waved to the audience and left, unable to meet with the audience in the gymnasium post-show.
Couch said there were several obstacles to overcome before taking the stage. Given such a short time to prepare for the show, Couch said the cast had to prepare under unfavorable circumstances. He said most rehearsals were in the evenings to work
around fall sports in the gym.
“We definitely have received the support of the athletic department,” he said. “They coordinated to make sure that the gym was clear as often as they could clear it.”
Couch said other issues included that some members of the cast graduated in the spring, the cast had “about two or three” music reviews that were done outside in the school’s courtyard, the cast didn’t rehearse with sets or staging, and the “pit didn’t come together till the last two days” all while rehearsing with masks on. Couch said it wasn’t until the rehearsal the day before that the cast rehearsed without masks.
“Ty pically, we have tons of months of doing the same thing over and over again to get comfortable with it,” Garvin said. “This year, it was just kind of building as we go.”
Couch said after a month of planning to come together, the cast only had 18 rehearsals until they performed.
Casey Couch, Madison senior and daughter of Steve Couch, who played Roxie Hart, said practicing
with masks offered a challenging experience.
“(Rehearsing) w it h masks the whole time made it really difficult to know if our songs were correct,” she said. “It’s hard to sing and dance with a mask on and know if you’re projecting enough.”
As Lake County rose to Level Three in Ohio’s novel coronavirus Public Health Advisory System, Couch said he hopes the performance can act as a template for other surrounding communities to restart their performing arts.
“I hope that in our own small way, we are providing a path forward for people,” he said.
“The arts are as central to a lot of people’s existence as sports are to many other people’s existence. Schools that have smaller venues, they’re going to need to move into a larger space. I think they should maybe consider this as a possibility.”
Logan Revier, Madison High School senior who played Billy Flynn, said it requires effort from multiple people for schools to bring back the performing arts.
“If you want to get [performing arts] back in, the first thing you’ve got to find is people who are willing to put effort in,” he said. “If you have people who don’t care, don’t try or aren’t willing to work [with masks] on their face then you’re not going to get anywhere.”
Couch said the performing arts are vital for the recovery of the economy as the arts provide employment for thousands of people and support associated industries such as restaurants, tourism, hotels, and union jobs.
“Until the arts get off the ground the economy is not going to recover,” he said. “People have the impression that the arts are not essential. The arts are an industry. They employ thousands of people. If they don’t come back, the economy will not come back.”
As for performing in the gymnasium, Couch said for now it may be the best alternative moving forward.
“Performing in our own gymnasium may be necessary again, as long as the situation persists,” he said.
Madison High School Performing Arts will offer a show on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and finish off on Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in the high school’s gymnasium.