Anyone who has ever performed in a musical, play, recital or even a talent show knows how much work goes in to producing art for the public to enjoy. Entertaining the masses doesn’t happen overnight. There is the pre-planning stage where the creative and production teams gather and decide what the show will look, sound, and feel like to an audience. Then comes the rehearsal process where actors dive deeply into their roles, analyzing their characters and learning dialogue and choreography that drives the plot of the story. It’s work, and it challenges the imagination and creativity of everyone involved. Throw a global pandemic in the mix and your normal challenges have now been put into question. Health first, everything else follows.

This was our mantra for this summer’s STAR Academy musical production of The Addams Family and STAR Academy Cabaret: Songs from the Silver Screen. The administrative team at Gulfshore Playhouse endured months of planning for the safety of our students and staff. The question we asked ourselves was how can we safely and successfully produce on stage during a time when Broadway has shut its doors and almost every theatre company has turned to virtual programs? With lengthy conversations, attention to CDC guidelines, and understanding all risks involved, we established strict protocols for our students and staff to follow during the four weeks of our STAR Academy summer program.

One important element, if not the most significant, that has made this entire rehearsal experience for our musical productions possible was the professionalism of our students. Each day, they arrived to rehearsal not only with the willingness to learn all things theatre, but also with the safety of their peers in mind. Face masks and face shields were worn at all times, with the exception of lunch. And even then, students sat at least 6 feet apart while they were given 30 minutes to relax and enjoy the fresh outdoor air. It should not go unmentioned that our students did not once complain about having to wear personal protective equipment, truthfully. Imagine having to learn music, choreography, and dialogue under the confines of a face mask or face shield. Think about the moments where students and directors need to emote and show expression on their faces, but can only do so with the obstruction of the masks. It’s challenging to the say the least. And yes, there were moments of frustration. However, our students understood that they are the first actors back on our stage after the world seemingly shut down. If that isn’t motivation, I don’t know what is.