In spite of the challenges posed by COVID-19, Fieldston’s vibrant performing arts community has remained committed to showcasing student talent through a variety of performances. This winter, juniors and seniors in the Theater Company applied to direct their own small shows consisting of 5 to 10 student-actors, in addition to a production team. However, unlike years prior, the entire show had to be done remotely, which created a whole new set of obstacles for the student-directors.
Rachel Hendrickson (VI) was selected to direct this Winter Studio Theatre Show. The play, Know the Downbeat (or) Lover’s Lane, was written by K’yana Faulkner-Smith and was open to viewing the nights of Friday, February 5th and Saturday, February 6th. Its cast comprised Anna-Lies Voorham (III), Nate Russo (IV), Maribel Mendoza (V), Sophie David (V), Cassidy Boehm (VI) and Zach Cohn (VI). Behind the scenes, Emma Friedman (IV) assistant directed, Charlotte Lundberg (VI) was the Lead Designer and Harrison Brooks (VI) created the visuals and animations. The play tells the story of a drive-in movie theatre atop a hill. Three separate cars hold pairs and we watch as each relationship unfolds. Voorham and Boehm’s characters are on their first date, Russo and Mendoza’s have a complicated friendship and Cohn and David’s characters have reached a breaking point in their relationship.
Emma Friedman interviewed the cast on the Wednesday before the show and found that each member came to the same conclusion: Although the work on this show was done remotely, they were able to develop strong friendships and overcome the obstacles posed by technology. “Creating a work of virtual theater certainly had its challenges, many of them. But that is perhaps what made this production ultimately so rewarding; we were able to produce both a show and community that truly encapsulated the energy and love at the heart of theater. It has been a great privilege to collaborate with such an amazing group of actors and technicians, and I am incredibly grateful for all that Downbeat has given me,” said Hendrickson.
The team’s perseverance paid off: Downbeat was viewed by over 300 people online. This number is five times the 60 person maximum of the Alex Cohen Theater, where the performance usually occurs.
The cast and crew noted that the show could not have been possible without Danny Viola leading the technology team as well as the guidance of Debra St. Onge McMahon, William Norman and Claire Mottola.
