Spring Lion Players present 'Pippin,' Spring theater department's first in-person show since March

Since the opening of COVID-19 in Pippen in late January, Spring’s theater department has taken its first live performance and adopted health and safety measures. It plans to broadcast its final live broadcast from February 18th to 20th. Performances for families to watch.

Because the actors wear masks, face masks and costumes, Lions Theater’s current musicals may look different from audience habits.

Despite the challenges, director Marilyn Ocker believes that the hard work of the students has allowed them to successfully complete beautiful works-this is the first live performance since COVID-19 arrived in the area.

The Spring High School Theater Department will show "Pippin" to audiences who keep a distance from society on January 28th, 29th, 30th and February 1st, and take health and safety measures. For those who may not be able to perform in person for the final performance, tickets will be available starting February 1 to record a recording of Saturday's performance for viewing at home from February 18th to 20th.

"Pippen" is a musical by Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz. It tells the young story of Charlemagne’s son Pippen. He wanted to realize himself For the true purpose of the company, he made a life-changing journey. The department performed four live performances, in which junior junior Jordyn Wardsworth played Pippin, and senior Christopher Aviles led a group of band members to tell the story.

In the past five years, Ocker has been among this year's fresh graduates. She taught them in the eighth grade of middle school, and they moved to Spring High School together.

She said that last spring semester was abolished when COVID-19 was released last year, canceling dance parties and all competitions, including inter-university leagues. Students who dropped out of the school in the 2020-2021 school year have waited a few months to resume work.

"I really want to make this year's seniors feel that they haven't missed everything.... Part of it is the connection you get from the actors as an audience," Oak said. "Virtual performance will be the icing on the cake."

Since COVID-19 began to affect the Houston area early last year, Ocker has been aware of the dangers. Therefore, she followed the requirements of Spring ISD and implemented a plan that required students to rehearse after school and was allowed to perform virtual performances by the end of 2020.

The rehearsal is conducted in person, but all students stay away from social interactions and have a designated seat in the auditorium where they can sit when they are not on the stage.

In addition to stocking gallons of antibacterial agents, bottled water and masks, Ocker also decided to delete all private scenes. She said the department has almost produced its first show since the pandemic, which is a children's show written by parents in November.

She said: "Sometimes virtual performances are not without problems, but we did it." "We made sets, dressed in costumes and lights, and the children were happy to return to the stage. This is not the same as a live performance."

Oak said it was difficult to prepare for the pandemic, but managed to get approval for the live performance of "Piping". She said that the area allows them to perform live performances mainly because the auditorium has a high ceiling and good air circulation.

"As long as we perform in the auditorium, it's okay.... There is no more intimate show in my black box than me," she said.

In the after-school rehearsal, Oak said that choreographers paid great attention to safety and kept social distance from performers as much as possible to prevent performances.

Oaker said: "Unfortunately, this does mean that we have to reduce the number of people." "We usually have about 35 children in musicals. Well, because of our inaccessibility at this stage, we have reduced the number of performances. To 18."

Ocker said that together with 18 performers, 7 students are required to perform in the booth and backstage.

She said: "But these children have worked hard. The choreography is beautiful and the rhythm is very fast."

One of Ocker's tasks is to create a seat map in the 856-seat auditorium. Due to COVID conditions, the department did not allow full-load sales and blocked more than half of the seats. There is no discount during the intermission, but participants can leave in separate sessions.

Oak said that people who hope to watch the show online will watch the Saturday night performance, which is usually the most attended show. They also held auctions to raise funds for the Joseph Thomas and Isaiah Williams Theater Scholarship Fund. However, the face-to-face silent auction was cancelled and moved to app.galabid.com online.

She said that the videographer uses three cameras to record the entire program, and it takes about two weeks to edit to provide the best viewing effect.

Ocker said: "I am very grateful that we can stream the recorded content." "In fact, if there is no iPad, we will get excellent recording effect, without interrupting the experience of some people, and still pay attention to the COVID People at home will be able to see outstanding performance."

Oak hopes that students will gain experience on stage again.

She said that during the face-to-face performance, the students assigned a sanitary station in the backstage, where they wiped masks, sprayed Lysol on clothing, and wore gloves when they were not on stage.

"We are very careful, and we are very lucky because none of our children have got COVID; I have been telling them that if only one person gets COVID, we will be shut down." She said.

Ocker said the department missed the small things they took for granted, such as sitting on a bench in the background, which they can no longer do because of safety regulations. She said this is the most difficult transition from a show before the COVID to a show after the COVID.

Oaker said: "Performance and interpersonal relationships are so important on the stage. Now for them, they can't touch, can't get close, and their brains are hard to accept. I have to keep reminding them," "We are socially Probably away from choreography and movement."

All actors must wear masks and masks to provide double protection for the safety of the audience. But, Ocker said, the sound came from behind the two vibrators and the transparent masks they had intended to wear. To improve noise quality, she said the team conducted a poll and decided to use black medical-grade masks instead of transparent masks.

She said that the new mask allows students to open their mouths without any problems, thereby improving the sound quality.

Oaker said: "So, it's a different way of acting-they have to keep their eyes open, be very physical to the body, and convey their character in this way." "After a few minutes, you just stop watching When it comes to the mask, you just forgot and entered the world they created, which we call "incredible suspension".

"This is just a normal natural phenomenon. I like wearing masks and masks very much instead of not allowing these children to perform."

Tickets for the remaining live performances (7pm on Saturdays and Mondays) are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. They can be purchased through ShowTix4U and can be accessed from the theater department website.

Tickets for streaming media can be purchased online starting February 1. The stream will only be displayed at 7pm from February 18th to February 20th. Interested parties can buy family tickets for $25, or individual tickets for $15.

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alvaro.montano@chron.com

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