Theatre in the Time of COVID

By: Akanksha Thakur

COVID has impacted us all in different ways, and one thing it has impacted is the Trine Drama Club. Our drama club hosts two plays each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. This is a great way for students to get involved and meet many people. The club is run by students who are under the direction of a faculty advisor, Mindy Maples. The drama club is a very fun experience, however due to COVID, safety is a major concern, and there have been some changes in how the club has had to operate. 

In an interview with Blake Williams (participant of the drama club), we got his view on some impact that the pandemic has had on the club. He was in The Importance of Being Earnest in the fall of 2019. “Now that COVID is around, you have to wear your mask and social distance. You remove the feeling of family and camaraderie. So, it has been a bit tougher,” said Blake Williams.

This semester, due to the cast being very small, safety is not as much of an issue. However, last semester due to the cast being very large, the actors would have to alternate with one person on stage at a time, and in different locations. Students presented, "On Broadway," compriesed of monologues and musical solos. Social distancing was taken at the fullest extent to ensure the safety of the cast and crew. 

The upcoming play, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will be put on next month, April 10th and 11th. It is a lighthearted play, which takes place in Putnam County. It is a very enjoyable adult musical, with raunchy jokes, and is about a fictional spelling bee set in Putnam Valley Middle School. This play will be different from last semester, due to some restrictions on stage, and not being as close to each other. It is also a little bit of an inconvenience having to wear a mask all the time. It is hard having to worry about social distancing when you are off stage, however, keeping the cast and crew members safe and healthy is of utmost importance. If any student would like to join the drama club, they can contact Professor Mindy Maples at maplesm@trine.edu. 

Cast members include Darius Surgenavic, Aidan Smith, Ashlee Orman, John McClelland, Lydia Roop, Matthew Ketner, Sean Carpenter