A Note from a Co-Director
When the pandemic hit in March, I watched the industry I have devoted my life to crumble to the ground. Shows were cancelled, productions halted, live performance ended, TV shows ceased filming. I watched major players in the theatre industry close shops, furlough employees, cut salaries, or shutter their doors indefinitely. At Theatre UAB we have had to cancel over five productions, and countless public performances.
The theatre went dark.
Because of this, I found myself growing dark. The creativity inside, the force that keeps me going, was extinguished. However, a remaining ember took roots in the soil of the ashes. And that idea is what you will witness tonight.
I knew that I was not alone in my darkness. If I was feeling this way, I knew others must be as well. With the unwavering support of Kelly Allison, Cliff Simon, and Lee Shackleford – the idea of a virtual theatre project began to grow.
I did not want to put a script that existed for the stage into the virtual world. I wanted to create something FOR the virtual platforming. Knowing that theatre, without a doubt is a collaborative art form; I realized that at the core of what I wanted to create sat multiple voices. Multiple creators. Thus came “the Collective”, and I became a WE.
We embarked on this journey with two weeks of interviews, writing prompts, and conversations amongst “the Collective” via Zoom and with two rules. 1) Obey at all times CDC regulations of masking and social distancing and 2) Create something that never existed before.
And that, is what we did. Tonight, you will witness the voices of “the Collective”. The stories WE wanted to tell and the way WE wanted to tell them. Working truly as collaborators – you will see writers - acting for the first time, actors – who dipped their hands in writing, original songs, choreography creations, website branding, video editing, and creations across social media platforms. Everything was created by this group of artists.
The whole collective has gone above and beyond with their work on this production, yet let it be known that David H. Parker, Bailey Dumlao, and Lee Shackleford are the bedrock to which this production stands.
So may tonight give you a respite from the isolating cold; a glimmer of light from a flame that still is burning, even in the darkest of nights.
Art matters. Amplification of underrepresented voices matters. Black Lives Matter. You matter.
This production is dedicated to Marlene Johnson; our teacher, mentor, colleage, and friend. You will be dearly missed.
~ Roy Lightner
