virtual theater — SCP News — Stone Church Players

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Recently, we had a chance to chat with our artistic director, Michael McClellan, about our upcoming reading of The Tempest which he is directing. Throughout June, Michael has been holding Zoom rehearsals and working very closely with each of the actors, coaching them as they develop their characters, and navigate the complexities of storytelling in the time of Covid-19.

1. What made you pick The Tempest for this season?

The easy answer is that I love Shakespeare in summer! On a deeper level, inside my mind, when I read “Tempest,” I see and hear the waves and seagulls, feel the chill of the mist and sense the touch of moss and slippery rocks. But most of all, I am drawn into the magical realm of Prospero’s mind and island. This play triggers all the senses and that is a welcome gift during this time of isolation and social distancing.

2. What lessons can we learn from The Tempest?

Hopefully to find a way to laugh with each other! Although the play is full of passion with regards to the dangers of colonization, repressed anger and obsessive thoughts of revenge, there are also welcome references to awakened self-awareness, redemption and forgiveness and gloriously, the gift of recognizing the beauty in front of you.

3. What's your favorite moment in the play? Why?

Wow. I could probably list at least ten, but I think the section that always warms my soul is Ferdinand’s sense of wonder at the images Prospero puts before him. “This is a most majestic vision, and harmonious charmingly. May I be bold to think these spirits?” Does it get better than that?

4. What are the cast’s biggest strengths?

This cast understands magic! We are missing the magic of theater right now and this cast fully grasps the idea and importance of moving storytelling forward in whatever form available.

5. What have you liked about virtual rehearsals? What has been challenging?

Overseeing a rehearsal using Zoom and not letting your mind wander to imagine the cast bursting into the theme from “The Brady Bunch” is its own demented challenge. One advantage I have discovered within this format and grown to embrace is as a director I can really focus into the actors’ facial expressions and the emotions expressed within their eyes. If they are focused, listening and responding, their eyes dance as they tell the story.

6. What would you like to accomplish from a virtual reading and how will you engage the community?

I hope that through creating and publishing this filmed reading, we can inspire ourselves and other community troupes to move theater forward during this pandemic. Two of the worst possible side effects during this time are stagnation and hopelessness. Storytelling will survive. We just need to keep nudging it forward on its journey.

7. Where do you see the future of theatre going for SCP?

We very much look forward to being back on the stage with the costumes, sets, lights and dance. We are so appreciative of our community and audiences. We miss them and hope to hear them laugh, gasp, sigh, and applaud again soon. Until then, we will continue to encourage actors to be actors and to grow and expand their storytelling talents. Our plans include promoting local playwrights by reading their works online and providing a space for talk-backs and discussion. We are already looking ahead to the 2021 season which will include the production of “Little Women” that we had intended to mount this autumn.

8. What other projects are you working on?

Personally, I am working on a project that unites my two passions for baking and art history. I am extremely excited to move this journey forward. I can still hear one of my pastry chef mentors looking me in the eye and saying, “Michael, my wish for you is that someday your buried passion bursts forth.” Well, Andrew, get ready! It is about to explode!

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