The fall play is typically performed in the Black Box, but this year theater arts students are outside, praying for good weather. 

The drama program will be performing A Midsummer’s Night Dream on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. If it ends up raining the performance will be moved to Oct. 28. Viewers can join the livestream on the GOHS Theater Arts Program Facebook page to watch the play live.

Due to COVID-19, many precautions have been made to accommodate the needs that have come with the virus. Theater Arts teacher Amy Sima-Dirham had to re-evaluate how this play would be performed compared to a normal year.

“I’ve had to do a lot of blocking where they’re not close to each other for very long. And then far apart again,” Sima-Dirham said.

 What Sima-Dirham plans to do, after 15 minutes of having the actors talk close to each other, is to have one of them slowly separate from the other so they can maintain the 3 to 6 feet of social distance.

Of course, there are more regulations that have taken place. Another precaution that needs to be taken is protecting ourselves against COVID-19 via masks or gloves. 

“So, last year we were almost on top of each other, like in fight scenes we were able to get really up close and now there are X’s on the ground to tell us where we have to go,” senior Alexis Stewart said.

The actors will not be performing with masks on but will be social distancing throughout the play. There are also fewer students involved this year.

“Not many people were able to be a part of it, either because they couldn’t do auditions or be a part of it because we are trying to keep it very small in order to keep it safer,” senior Emily Kuntz said.

Being socially distanced is not the only obstacle. For example, there will be a big curtain put up to help with scene changes in the play, which the actors will have to walk around to get to the “backstage” area.

“We are finding a way to put up a backdrop, just a very simple one,” Kuntz said. 

The backdrop will be a plain black sheet that will be held up by a metal stand. The metal stand will stand on the ground behind the plants in the planter out in the piazza. 

There is a limited number of people allowed in the live audience, but viewers can watch the performance live via the link below.

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/gohsdrama