High School Actors Respond To Crushing COVID-19 Closures
The COVID-19 pandemic continues change the world as we know it. As closures and performance cancellations have put actors out of school and work, I’ve been reaching out to the artists affected.
We understand that theatre can seem trivial at times of crisis - but sometimes, theatre is all we have. Here are the stories of high schoolers across the United States and Canada.
You are not alone.
“I am a high school junior at an independent school in Vermont and tonight my school announced that we would be closing. The state is trying to be cautious because of all the families under the poverty line. A regional show I was in tech week for, my school trip to Costa Rica, my weekly vocal lessons, and anything that causes me joy, have all been cancelled. I just want real life back. Being in my home for three weeks, struggling to make online schooling work for me and stay content will be a challenge, as I’m sure everyone is experiencing. Everyday tasks like grocery shopping are apocalyptic and there are no activities to support human life. I just want to go back to rehearsals and not being worried every day.”
- Olivia, junior at an independent school in Vermont
“I was going to perform for 1,000 thespians in my musical Urinetown as Hope at our State Thespian Festival. Our school had finally won this honor. And at the same festival, I was going to compete with my monologues. I’ve been trying for 3 years to even get to compete.”
Ella, senior in Ashland, OR
“This year was going absolutely amazing! I won my first speech tournament, qualified to three different national tournaments, was state champion in one of the hardest states in the nation. I just bought my prom dress and my cap and gown. I applied and was accepted into college. Our band was on track to have superior ratings at the State level for the fourth consecutive year. We were starting to prepare for my last choir concert and musical production with my high school. And then suddenly, everything was ripped away from me, from my friends, my classmates. Two of the three national speech tournaments were cancelled. One pending. My choir concert was cancelled only hours before it was scheduled to begin. It was announced that the band could no longer perform at Contest. Our musical is being rescheduled. And then, it was announced that schools would be closed for three weeks. It might be longer. On Friday, I cleaned out my locker, and walked out of my high school for what could be my last time as a student there. Tears and anxiety are the best description of my last few days. I don't know what is to come next. The only thing I know is that all of my hard work and dedication in 18 years lead up to this moment in time. I might never get to walk across a stage to receive my diploma. I might never get to put on the gorgeous prom dress hanging in my closet.”
- Brooklyn, senior in Zoarville, OH
“Our theatre program has been rehearsing Mamma Mia for a little over 3 months now. Last night we received a notification by our distruct that we would have no school until march 27. Our show weekend was march 26-29. Our cast has high hopes for a scheduling process, but no one knows for sure. This was a huge deal,because I got pepper and as a freshman I really wasn't expecting an actual role. Hopefully we get another weekend! Hopes up!”
- Zach, freshman in Lewes, DE
“On March 13, 2020 my high school announced that it’ll be closed for the next three weeks. It feels like everything is falling apart all of sudden. No musical, no prom, no dance, and no school. My school’s spring musical, “Ranked” was supposed to open next week. We spent so much time and love on this show, it’s upsetting that we won’t be able to share it to the public. But I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to reschedule when things get better. It’s going to take some time to adjust to online schooling, dance classes on zoom, vocal lessons on Skype, and isolating myself from everyone. I’m going to use this time to expand my audition portfolio for college by reading plays, researching schools, strengthening my voice, and working on my dance technique.”
Ruri, junior in Cupertino, CA
“I go to a performing arts high school in the theatre program. Because of Covid-19 we are off for an additional 2 weeks after March break and it could be extended. This puts us behind in our arts programme with study/class changes and we will now lose time for performance, rehearsals and auditions. It’s very hard for us as we all auditioned to go to the school and are always working hard. Now the one thing I love more then anything, my way to escape, my form of expression, my place with friends and other who understand me has been taking away just like that.”
- Jenna, sophomore from Canada
“I’m in high school now, and our closing weekend of The Music Man was just cancelled. visiting the theatre to strike today was heartbreaking, and it’s so insane how everything can just end so fast. the seniors didn’t get a chance to have their final shows, and none of us thought this would be over so quick. we know it’s for the best, but it hurts so much.”
- Tabitha, freshman in El Cerrito, CA
“Almost all the schools around my area are closed for at least three weeks. Spring musicals are being cancelled all over the place. Losing those 3 weeks of rehearsal time is too precious. We were doing the Wizard of Oz and although it hasn’t been officially cancelled yet, it’s only a matter of time.”
- Kaylee, senior in Birmingham, AL
“It’s my senior year: my final school musical, senior prom, graduation. They’re all gone. I go to a small school, my freshman year we had six people in the theatre program, we now had fifteen. I worked four years to grow the program, going through three directors, countless meetings with the head of my school, hours of rehearsal, and weeks of recruiting 8th graders for the program for my final show to be cancelled. I was beyond excited to perform for my last time on a stage I worked so hard to build.
Today, March 15, 2020, my director called me in a panic to tell me our show was to be postponed indefinitely. The cast quickly jumped on a Group FaceTime call to express our fears and frustration. We ultimately decided to work when we can — in the safest way possible. Virtual rehearsals are currently underway for a show that may never see the bright stage lights. Uncertainty surrounds us all but we need to remain positive. We need to continue working on our craft, even if we are confined to our bedroom walls.”
Caroline, senior in Atlanta, GA
“So, as of right now, our show hasn’t been cancelled yet. We got “the talk” on Thursday at school. Our director prepared us for cancellation, saying it might happen. She told us we would still continue to prepare our musical. We had even gotten a paper on Friday that said our school district would NOT be closing school. (Which wasn’t surprising at all, I’ve been to school during like 3 hurricanes). Then Saturday morning we got the call. School was cancelled for a week. Which means so were our 3 scheduled rehearsals. At this point, I don’t think Sister Act is going to happen. Last week we had to cancel a lot because my director had to have her appendix removed. The week before that, me and a couple other students were at SETC with our directors.
The problem we encountered before that was that MTI wouldn’t send us our scripts until 2 months before show. Well, we had scheduled rehearsals starting at 3 months. We don’t have a very big theatre team, so all of our musicals are open call, which means we get a lot of inexperienced kids. We needed those 3 months to prepare the musical.
For me and other seniors, it’s really devastating. I’m supposed to be playing Mary Robert, and I was really really overjoyed that I had gotten the part. I really love her character and I really relate to her. Now, I’m not sure I’ll ever get the chance to make new discoveries about her. A good friend of mine is playing Deloris. She really really deserves the role. She’s the most hardworking person in our troupe! She’s also our resident stage manager. She’s really responsible and she hardly plays roles. (She plays smaller roles here or there—WHILE stage managing.)
I was really excited for Sister Act, and, as a senior, it’s my last opportunity to be on a high school stage. I don’t know what we’ll do if it’s cancelled.”
- Laney, senior in Mississippi
“My last two show choir competitions ever were cancelled. This was my last season competing with my team and we didn't even know our last competition was actually our last. My improv troupe's show was cancelled and we don't know the next we will rehearse together. My musical was postponed and rehearsals are on hold. I'm also out of school for 2 weeks. As of right now the conservatory where I study ballet is still open but I'm nervous. I'm studying with the Broadway Collective with their online program Hello Broadway which is a positive because that can't be cancelled. But this whole thing is effecting all the things that hold a special place in my heart and it's hitting me hard. It's hard to stay hopeful.”
- Dakota, sophomore in Fiskdale, MA
“I am currently in two community theatre shows and one of them has been postponed, along with the rehearsals, which seems like the right thing to do. the other has decided to keep having rehearsals like nothing is happening, and if you don’t go, you’re in the wrong. Some of us are immunocompromised or have others at home who are and it’s shocking to me that they’ve decided to not cancel. There’s so much that’s just so uncertain right now which can make it difficult to stay positive if theatre is an outlet for you. I feel for the theater and directors, I can’t imagine what kind of uncertainty they’re facing after planning meticulous schedules and venue booking the past year/months. Personally, I’m using this time as an opportunity to strengthen my voice, acting, dance, etc. so I can be stronger when we all come back.”
- Heather, junior in Northern Virginia
“My show choir has cancelled all the competitions and my schools production of Sweeney Todd has been postponed to an unknown date. We truly have no idea what’s happening or what to do.”
- Jordan, sophomore in Tallmadge, OH
“My high school show got canceled on open dress. We all walked into the warm up room and saw our principal and superintendent standing there and we knew what was coming. I have one more year of performing for my high school but, this year's seniors don't get to do their senior show. We got lucky that we were able to do our open dress in front of our families and the school let us perform the entire show in front of our school the following day. We even managed to get our show recorded and judges to attend for our Annual Stars of Tomorrow event that all the surrounding high school musicals participate in. And with a little luck, we may be able to perform our show on a later date! It was really hard hearing the news. At first I didn't want to believe it after how hard we've worked. But, everything happens for a reason.”
- Eliza, junior in Avon, NY
A Letter to All Actors During COVID-19 Crisis
We are all hurting right now. I hope by sharing these stories, you’ll find some comfort in solidarity. You are not alone!
