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.”

Jasmine Roth

The curtain isn’t completely closed to the Arizona Theatre Company’s 2019-2020 season as ATC offers education and engagement programs online.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down scheduled shows, ATC will provide engaging digital classes and binge-worthy videos and podcasts, according to a press release.

“We are looking at the value and importance of being part of a collective experience now and pushing toward what we will be when we comeback in the fall,” said ATC Managing Director Designee Geri Wright in a prepared statement.

“We are constantly thinking about and developing new products for the next five months, not just for ATC social posts but for really meaty video and artistic content and online experiences driven by an overarching theme promoting the concept that ‘You Are/I Am/ We Are’ Arizona Theatre Company.”

The company’s education program, ATCteen for  ages 13-19, that moved online, include:

• Weekly classes every Tuesday at 3 p.m. on topics including playwriting, acting, dance, production, design and more;
• Playreader’s Club every other week for students to choose a play to read with discussions. Playwrights may be involved on a regular basis;
• Private coaching for students by professionals in a range of specialties;
• Improv Troupe for the ATCteen Improve to continue exploring and creating performances;
• Radio Drama Project for students to write, record and produce; and
• #ATC Create Anyway & Creative Challenges for students worldwide to join in by creating and posting their own projects using the hashtag and offering creative challenges for students to think outside the box.

“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,” said ATC Director of Learning and Education Jasmine Roth in a prepared statement.

General ATC content rooms:

• The Blackbox Room for play readings and online workshops of plays and musicals.
• The Green Room for conversations with national and local artists and friends.
• The Rehearsal Hall for deeper conversations around plays, musicals and topics affecting the community, and
• The Classroom for educational, creative and informative content for all ages featuring directors, designers, playwrights, actors, technicians and producers.

Each “room” will be available on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and ATC’s podcast and radio station. Video and podcast episodes will be released on Sundays beginning April 12. Daily content and updates will be found on Instagram and Facebook, noted the release.

“Content is being developed quickly and creatively and we will push it out across all platforms and capabilities,” Ms. Wright said.

“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.”

Adding about the pandemic’s widespread financial impact on nonprofit and for-profit organizations and businesses, she said that everything is being examined from generating revenue for ATC to the importance of donating this year  to local businesses, charities that patrons support, including the organization.

“We are in unchartered territory on so many levels with this pandemic,” Ms. Wright said.

“We know the health, safety and well-being of our friends, families and co-workers is the top priority, but we’re also trying to look beyond how we are adapting to the situation through a creative lens that brings not just joy and diversion but may also bring us all together at a time when being part of a collective community has never been so critical.”

Visit: arizonatheatre.org for schedules and details.