Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the ETSU Theatre and Dance Department has proven that they are here to stay.
This semester, the Theatre and Dance department will be putting on a play titled “Men on Boats,” written by Jaclyn Backhaus, featuring an all-female and non-binary cast.
“Men on Boats” runs Nov. 18-21 and will be directed by ETSU faculty member Cara Harker. Other team members include Melissa Shafer on lighting and sound design, Jonathon Taylor on scenic design, Ante Ursic on movement and choreography, Sarah Slagle on costume design, Zach Olsen on technical design, Caroline Daniels as assistant lighting designer and Emma-Rae Carson as stage management.
During the spring semester, the department will perform two more times, one of which will be the first musical since the beginning of the musical theater program here at ETSU, which began in the Fall of 2019.
“Straight White Men,” directed by Melissa Shafer, will be performed Feb. 17-20. This play aims to empathize with straight white males and understand the struggles they may have in life. The musical “Bright Star,” directed by Bobby Funk, will be performed April 1-10.
While working to perform and prepare for these performances, directors and staff are making sure that all students are safely practicing while following all COVID-19 restrictions.
“We always rehearse indoors with [masks],” says Karen Brewster, department chair and professor, “and we are discussing rehearsals outside, at least in the beginning of the semester.”
Department professors are even discussing ways to write masks into their performances through costume, if the need arises.
Tickets will go on sale later this fall. For more information, please visit etsu.edu/cas/theatre/ for box office ticket sale dates.
