Draw The Curtain

LHS Theater Department

Unofficial poster of Liberty’s Production of ‘Anne-Arky,’ the first of the ‘20-‘21 school year.

With the start of the school year, there are lots of questions regarding normal school activities and events. Some school events are happening differently, some being postponed like the homecoming dance, and other events still pursuing normal routine. The theater season is no exception. 

Right as we get back into the swing of things, the theater department already had their first auditions for the fall one-act, “Anne-Arky” in October. On Wednesday, Sept. 15, Mrs. Gehrke and Mr. Eversole held virtual auditions. 

“Each auditioner had a different Google Meet code and Mr. Eversole (our technical director) and I watched their auditions,” Gehrke said. 

For the one-act, they plan to have separate crews working on different days. This means that sound and lighting won’t work together in the booth until show night and actors will be masked and socially distanced to the best extent. 

The auditions were also socially distanced. Actors signed up for a slot on a spreadsheet and Mrs. Gehrke would give each person a Google Meet link to meet at a certain time. Sophomore Anna Wright and junior Jackson Martin both auditioned and talked about their experiences. 

“I think [auditioning virtually is] easier because you’re in the same environment when you were practicing,” Wright said. 

Since the auditions are over, the cast has been set. There were no callbacks for the one-act. Usually, callbacks serve to see more of an actor in certain roles. 

“I’m nonplussed with there being no callback list. It merely means I have less work to do overall,” Martin said. The cast and crew list was posted at 4 p.m. on Thursday after school. 

“Anne-Arky” will be debuting on Oct. 22-23 at 7 p.m. Mrs. Gehrke will have recording rights so if it the public can’t see the show in person it will be live-streamed or recorded in some way shape or from. 

Rehearsals have already begun most with crew heads and cast staying after school but the crew will be added in as early as this week. “We have a really fun, interesting, and compelling season, and our hope is that we’ll be able to still bring the show to our audiences, either virtually or, for very small audiences, in person,” Gehrke said.