How the City College Theater Department is Keeping Artistry Alive During COVID-19

Words by Sarah Logan
Graphic by Aspasia Celia Tsampas

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many students at City College feeling left out of the activities that once brought them joy and socialization before remote classes. With large gatherings being banned because of the lockdown, theater goers, performers, and actors have had to improvise. One group has come up with new ways to practice what they enjoy most— performing.

The actors and actresses at City College will be producing a virtual theater production this upcoming season. The City College theater department will be virtually performing three plays between the months of March to May. These productions include Anna in the Tropics, written by Nilo Cruz, Levelling Up, written by Deborah Zoe Laufer, and The Importance of Being Earnest, written by Oscar Wilde.

The City College theater department’s most recent completed virtual production was Dog Sees God, written by Bert V. Royal and directed by Josie Harding, an actress from City College. It was debuted on VIMEO, featuring a City College student cast from February 11th to February 13th.

 Anna in the Tropics, directed by Julio Mongo, will be premiering from March 11th to March 13th. Levelling Up, directed by student Jared Martino, will be premiering from March 22nd to March 24th. Lastly, The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Geovonday Jones, will be premiering from April 29th to May 1st. Each production can be viewed virtually through the platform VIMEO, and all virtual ticket information can be found on their Facebook page.

Students at CUNY Macaulay Honors College have also improvised to keep their theatrical interests alive. Last November, the honors students put on a virtual cabaret titled Opposites Attract with performances from Singin’ in the Rain, Hamilton, Mean Girls, and much more. The Macaulay Theater Club’s Spring season is also full of theatrical talent. Virtual productions include a Legally Blonde script reading, The Princess Bride script reading, a Cabaret Night, and a Queer Poetry night. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

Although the pandemic has caused a disruption in the theater world, the students at City College and CUNY Macaulay Honors College have not let it defeat them. With these new productions under construction, the theater department can still do what they enjoy most despite the circumstances.