Raising The Curtain on Local Performance Spaces
On March 14, 2020, theaters all across the country were ordered to close their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were in the midst of a typical performance weekend, including the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, who had just begun performances of a new original play.
“We were able to get two of the performances in and then they unfortunately had to lose their last performance,” artistic director Kevin Archambault explained. “We lost the opening for Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was supposed to be happening the next weekend, which was postponed at that time.”
As theatre companies were forced to close their doors, many began to adapt to different forms of presenting their work to an audience. Since The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck sits on several acres of land, they were able to produce productions on a temporary outdoor stage.
“Everyone was just staying within their own bubbles. Everyone volunteers here so we can’t really ask them to not go to their work or anything like that. But everyone takes it very, very seriously and was very committed to it. We were taking temperatures every night, we were quarantining, we were always masked, obviously, and then as distanced as we could be. So a lot of different interpretations of shows and some certain artistic choices were made to distance the actors as much as possible while those performances were happening.”
In addition to outdoor productions, theatre companies explored different aspects of virtual productions, streaming their performances online for audiences. While the New Deal Creative Arts Center in Hyde Park had originally planned for their annual gay pride production of “The Laramie Project” to be held in a traditional theatre setting, translating it to an online format provided them with a new silver-lining that was not previously obtainable.
“We were on Portland, Oregan’s Top 20 things to do for Pride 2020. So we were coast-to-coast, people were watching from all over the country, which really was a surprise for us,” executive director Teresa Gasparini shared. “It was our annual Pride production in which we partner with the LGBTQ community center in Kingston. We did it as a donation only, pay what you can. It was one-night-only and we raised $2000.”
After proving to be a valuable format, Teresa continued to take advantage of virtual theatre by hosting a series of fundraisers, all a part of a larger project.
“Because part of our mission is to revitalize the performing arts here in Hyde Park, New Deal sponsored several fundraisers and we successfully raised $10,000 that we’re going to use for a permanent outdoor stage here in Hyde Park. It’s a gift for the town of Hyde Park, it’s going to be at one of the town parks and we are hoping that construction will start next month because we have a whole lineup of shows that we’re ready to do.”
As The New Deal Creative Arts Center moves forward with plans for outdoor productions in Hyde Park, the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck also has their sights set on bigger productions, especially with vaccine rates increasing and outdoor performance audience restrictions beginning to soften.
“We are taking it very slowly, and safety is our biggest pre-caution, of course … We plan to build our temporary outdoor stage again, just so we can do that outside. Last year it was that 50 people could sit outside and watch a show, and now that number is up to 200 and we have the space for that,” Archambault stated. “There is something very charming about sitting outside and watching a show.”
As the future of live performances begins to become clearer, the impact that the arts have made throughout the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to leave their mark.
“I just hope everybody remembers how they turned to the arts during this time,” Gasparini concluded. “Whether it was Netflix or books or cooking, whatever kind of art it was. During the country’s darkest days, people turned to the arts and I really hope that is something that is remembered going forward.”
