UPCOMING SHOWS
Virginia Samford Theatre
Aug. 6-16: Love, Linda
Sept. 17-27: 1776
Oct. 15-25: Fantasticks
Nov. 12-22: Disney’s Frozen Junior
Birmingham Children’s Theatre
(Performing in schools only in the fall)
Sept. 14-Dec. 11: The Gingerbread Boy (Ages
2-8)
Sept. 14-Dec. 11: Cinderella (Ages 2-8)
Sept. 28-Dec. 11: School House Rock (Ages 6+)
Red Mountain Theatre Company
Oct. 2-11: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Feb. 5-21, 2021: Bright Star
Summer 2021: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
Cinderella
Bham Family August 2020 29
to an all-virtual format for their summer camp.
Though online this year, youth still had a chance
to learn the theatrical craft, from vocal and dance
to drama training.
To further engage with their younger audience,
the theatre has created programs on social media,
including playmaking live, actor spotlights, and
60-second videos from the RMTC archives, says
Drew Francis, creative and marketing director at
RMTC. “We are developing more ways to interact
with our audience that we will release in the
coming months,” he says.
While the online interaction has been fun,
with the theatre is seeing their patrons again.
They are holding off on ticketing until closer to
the show dates, which are scheduled to start in
“We are living in a tough moment right now,
and we believe in the transformation of theatre,”
Francis says. “We want to be able to help people
cope in these times.”
CREATE CONNECTIONS
made its fair share of changes, as well, cancelling
They also pushed back show dates and moved
there already have been some high points.
week, and one girl said, ‘I’ve been in my house
“I’m so glad we can provide that welcoming and
comforting space for them again.”
at a 50-percent seating capacity with general
admission social-distance seating, and they will do
temperature checks and require masks. Because
of the current uncertainty, they are no longer
selling season tickets.
“Theatre is so incredibly important during
times like this,” she says. “The beauty of
live theatre is the connection and dynamic
relationship it creates between the audience, the
actors, and the crew. There’s nothing quite like
it. It reminds us that we aren’t alone. We know
people need that kinship and magic now more
than ever.”
As more people are stuck at home and in front
“Every audience is different; every performance
the story with the actors.”
The pandemic has created a scary time for
theatres, considering its livelihood is built on
bringing people together. However, this problem
has also brought about many creative solutions.
people you create theatre with become your
family, and we can’t wait to be with them again.”
BCT PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMMY STRINGFELLOW
Birmingham Children’s Theatre’s created a video
cardboard puppet series in response to the
pandemic.