SAAC actors slate stream of production
After months of darkness, the South Arkansas Arts Center stage welcomed actors once again this month, for the Teen Drama Club’s production of “The Audition” by Don Zolidis.
While the small group of actors gathered under social distancing guidelines due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the play will be presented in an exclusive two-day streaming opportunity on the SAAC website on July 10 and 11.
The 10 actor ensemble worked with director Lynn Gunter to produce a teen-appropriate take on the classic story of “A Chorus Line.” The show follows eight high school students who gather to audition for their high school play. Who will get a part? Who won’t? Who will get the lead? Who is just there to get a boyfriend? Who cares only about themselves? Who needs this project so they can forget, for a moment, the life problems into which they are sinking? Can this group pull together a performance with so many things against them?
“As a theatre enthusiast, I’ve always loved the music and storyline of ‘A Chorus Line’,” Gunter said. “For the audience, you relate to these very real, serious, humorous characters. If you allow yourself to put down your social media/gaming and truly engage in the content of this production, you might even find your life changed. I invite you not to just watch ‘The Audition,’ but to experience it.”
The group began gathering in June, following Arkansas Department of Health Guidelines to observe social-distancing protocols and wear masks when not appearing on stage. These young actors and their adult guides saw clearly that the opportunity to be part of a creative arts experience far outweighed the inconveniences required. These were characters they could really grasp and identify with, either from their own experiences or from experiences of other teens they know, enabling them to give performances that were richer and deeper than ever before.
“A painter can still paint in quarantine, but an actor needs an audience,” said Gunter. “An actor’s canvas is the stage. We are thankful that guidelines were created for the state of Arkansas to produce safe theatre in these times.”
The cast is made up of Carmelo Brown, Maddy Couture, Kale Dugal, Hannah Elizabeth, Sarah Faith, Avery Hall, Mason Halstead, Ellis Lyles, Mary Claire Parker and Maggie Phillips. Gunter was joined on the production team by Hannah Davis acting as assistant director and parents Cassie Hickman and Tracye Couture. The set was designed by April Hoover, and Jacob George provided lighting design.
“During most plays our teens are asked to become someone else; to find emotions for characters, that they really can’t relate to yet. That is just part of acting, and a great part, but sometimes it’s hard to get them to really “feel” the role they are in. In ‘The Audition’, these were characters they could really grasp and identify with, either from their own experiences or from experiences of other teens they know,” Cassie Hickman said. “With that “identifying” they were able to give performances that were richer and deeper than ever before, as it hit a chord inside each of them. I’m so proud of these teens, as they gave their best performances to date.”
The cast and crew worked together to video each scene, and the final product was edited by Mary Claire Parker. The recording will be available to view at saac-arts.org on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11. The video is free to view, but SAAC asks that you consider donating the cost of a ticket to help support student art programs in South Arkansas.
For more information about “The Audition,” call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474. SAAC is located at 110 E. 5th St. in El Dorado.