The Show Must Go On(line):
Digital Evolutions of Live Theater
National PCA/ACA 2024
On this page:
Abstract * Performances * Bibliography
Abstract
From professional organizations like the Royal Shakespeare Co. to smaller regional and community theater troupes, many companies are finding themselves walking a tightrope between returning to live theater and maintaining an online presence. While companies like Breaking Light Productions take advantage of virtual theater’s accessibility and lower cost to entice patrons back to theatrical productions post-COVID, criticisms of streamed performances - from Zoom fatigue to poor action-to-action progression - abound. But this criticism can provide us with a useful place to begin a conversation about what virtual theater is and can be. How do we approach theater virtually without stripping it of its soul? And what, exactly, IS virtual theater? What place might it have in today’s TikTok-quick culture? Exploring examples from professional theater, community theater, and film, this presentation seeks to promote conversation about what “live theater” is and can (should?) be.
Performances
Mrs. Hawking Part 6: Fallen Women
Zoom+ performance
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"London, 1888— Mrs. Hawking’s great rival may have been vanquished, but the struggle has left rifts in the once-close bond between our heroes. They find themselves alienated and in pain even as they must swing into action to take on the infamous murderer Jack the Ripper. Where once they were always there for one another, a new life path opening up for Mary, Nathaniel’s lingering trauma, and Mrs. Hawking’s pulling away from her chosen family threaten to shatter the team forever." Content notes: gunshots, mentioned spousal violence, mentioned violence against sex workers. Produced by Breaking Light Productions' novel socially distanced filming system.
Gentlemen Never Tell
Zoom + performance
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“A comedic spinoff of the ongoing Hawking story, we follow Mrs. Hawking’s other nephew Justin as he trots the globe having romantic adventures in the spirit of P.G. Wodehouse. While on a business trip to Venice during Masquerade, dashing bisexual rake Justin Hawking is there to make deals and make love, not necessarily in that order. But behind the masks of the ball is more intrigue than he bargained for, and Justin must interrupt his dalliances long enough to stick up for those without his privilege to float through life.” Produced by Breaking Light Productions' novel socially distanced filming system.
Gentlemen Never Tell
Proshot performance
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"A romantic Victorian mystery-solving “Whodunnit?” While on a business trip to Venice during Masquerade, dashing London rake Justin Hawking is there to make deals and make love, not necessarily in that order. But behind the masks is more intrigue than he bargained for, and he must interrupt his dalliances long enough to stick up for those who aren’t so lucky as to float through life like he does! Produced by @BreakingLightProductions at the Manchester Community Theatre."
Bibliography
Akbar, Arifa. “The RSC’s hi-tech Dream opens up a world of theatrical possibility.” The Guardian, 17 Mar 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/mar/17/rsc-a-midsummer-nights-dream.
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Ars Pro Concreta. “On Filming Theater, and Why It Doesn’t Happen More.” Hunter Arrogant Entertainment, 13 Feb 2019, https://performingartsadvice.altervista.org/on-filming-theater-and-why-it-doesnt-happen-more/?doing_wp_cron=1704873110.9465260505676269531250.
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Barks, Samantha. “Let It Go - Samantha Barks Frozen West End.” YouTube, 17 Aug 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gek5C-ZWxI.
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“Becoming Beetlejuice.” YouTube, 5 Nov 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqziQsXCqbU.
Bhatti, Umber. “Ask Buffer: What Is the Ideal TikTok Length?” Buffer, 9 Feb 2023, https://buffer.com/resources/best-tiktok-video-length/.
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“Black Widow vs Winter Soldier Fight Scene.” YouTube, 15 Jan 2018, https://youtu.be/5hkh0-PQcYQ?feature=shared.
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Clapp, Susannah. “Dream review - the RSC’s hi-tech Shakespeare only goes so far.” The Guardian, 21 Mar 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/mar/21/dream-review-rsc-royal-shakespeare-company-nick-cave-the-litten-trees-fuel.
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CTDA Guide to Filming Live Theater. Cuban Theater Digital Archive, Univ of Miami, Jan 2012, https://ctda.library.miami.edu/static/docs/CTDA_Guide_to_Filming_Live_Theater_v01.pdf
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Fallen Women, Deluxe Zoom edition. 8 May 2021, https://youtu.be/XBjqnYFLC1M?si=kkLSA3ifLHl0r-kO.
Gentlemen Never Tell. 13 May 2023, https://youtu.be/KbQXR8TMd3o?si=_QtAwoYsBMwS3rSp.
Gentlemen Never Tell, Deluxe Zoom edition. 8 May 2021, https://youtu.be/w2_LmcuuBaQ?si=0yZApuS0PinjwPh4.
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McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics. William Morrow Paperbacks, 1994.
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Morgan, Fergus. “Tiktok: How Theatre Is Using the Video-Sharing App to Bring in New Audiences.” The Stage, 31 Oct. 2020, www.thestage.co.uk/features/tiktok-how-theatre-is-using-the-video-sharing-app-to-bring-in-new-audiences.
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Padberg, Kai. “New Forms of Communities? The Constitution and Performance of Audiences in Digital Theater during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Pamietnik Teatralny, vol 70, issue 3, Oct 2021, pts 145-163. Researchgate, DOI: 10.36744/pt.861, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355253761_New_Forms_of_Communities_The_Constitution_and_Performance_of_Audiences_in_Digital_Theater_during_the_COVID-19_Pandemic.
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Play That Goes Wrong Production Support. Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1318831461940379/. Accessed 11 Mar 2024.
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Peschier, Francesca. “Review: Dream by RSC (Online).” Exeunt, 20 March 2021, http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/review-dream-rsc-online.
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Prince, Stephen. Movies and Meaning. 5th ed., Allyn &Bacon, 2010.
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Soloski, Alexis. “Review: Living the ‘Dream,’ on Your Laptop or Phone.” The New York Times, 17 Mar 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/theater/review-dream-royal-shakespeare-company.html.
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TodayTix. “Maaaaan, the Ham is non-stop! Our audience survey showed that theatergoers are more likely to see #Hamilton live now that they've streamed it online. Where do you stand on the matter (remember: if you stand for nothing...)? Click the link in bio for more stats on the $10 founding father's stage AND screen appeal!.” Instagram, 6 Aug 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/CDjm4PbB99I/.
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Younas, Awais. “What is the Ideal Length of TikTok Videos in 2024.” SocialBU, n.d., https://socialbu.com/blog/ideal-lenghth-of-tiktok-videos/. Accessed 12 Mar 2024.