Arizonans Can Pass Quarantine Time in Online Theater Classes And Workshops

The Arizona Theatre Company had to cut live productions and classes short in mid-March due to the pandemic.

The Arizona Theatre Company, based in Phoenix and Tucson, is working to engage with its patrons online while its stages remain empty amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The nonprofit has moved its ATCteen education program – made for students ages 13 to 19 – online. Teens can take part in virtual classes every Tuesday at 3 p.m., read plays in groups, receive private coaching, create performances with the improv troupe, and record radio dramas. 

But the online content isn’t only for kids.

“In bringing our education initiatives online, we are excited to not only continue serving our current student population, but also to give our audience, patrons, and friends the opportunity to learn alongside us and explore the art of theatre from home,” ATC Director of Learning and Education Jasmine Roth said in a press release. 

The group is creating four “rooms,” or web pages, where anyone can explore the art of theater and behind-the-scenes moments from their couches. 

The “rooms” are:

• The Black Box, for play readings and online workshops
• The Greenroom, for conversations with national and local artists
• The Rehearsal Room, for discussions about plays, musicals, and the theater community
• The Classroom, for educational content for all ages

Videos and podcasts from all four of the rooms will also be available on the theater company’s social media pages. Content on The Classroom will include live videos and special workshops through Zoom video chatting. 

“Content is being developed quickly and creatively and we will push it out across all platforms and capabilities,” ATC Managing Director Designee Wright said in the release. “And, we’re very interested in gauging and listening to the response from our diverse communities as to what we are providing and what may be missing.”

For those who want less interactive content and just want to watch some theater, a recording of the company’s production of “The Legend of Georgia McBride” is available to rent for $25. The show’s live run in Tucson was cut short in mid-March due to the pandemic.

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