Critical Reflection #3: Reflect on your Essential Question

My question is “How can we engage in Theatre while social distancing”. Before we had to social distance my essential question was just a formality. What I wanted to do was practice directing, work with a lot of creative students and finish with a product I was proud of. I came up with a question because I had to. However, because I had to shift my project to the computer. This was a completely new area for me, I couldn’t even envision a world where Theatre could translate to zoom. So now my project really does seem like it’s sole purpose is to answer my question. Each session with the Theatre Y-Block I wrack my brain for a new way to have a successful scene, maintain chemistry, entertain a viewer, etc. The whole world was thrown into a new way of living, our world is now digital and every form of entertainment is digital. 

In the first two weeks I thought I would mostly be designing costumes and sets in my spare time because I didn’t think there would be enough for me to do with the club. I didn’t realize that being on the computer would increase the amount of work I had to do rather than decrease. There is so much trial and error before figuring out how to create a successful scene. I’m learning that there is so much trial and error involved with shifting Theatre to zoom, and thus a lot of my project involves having to roll with the punches and move on when a scene just isn’t working. However, I have enjoyed learning about costume design and I’ve learned that social-distancing does mean the start of a lot of new hobbies.