TKC Musicals Performs "Crashing into Silence", an Original Zoomsical!
Screenshot from zoomsical performance
TKC Musicals hosted Crashing into Silence this past weekend, an original “Zoomsical”, where students were able to share vulnerable stories of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected them.
The musical was performed virtually over Zoom, hence the name ‘Zoomsical.’ The show included pre-taped as well as live segments of songs and monologues which centered around the cast member’s personal stories of what they experienced when the pandemic hit America in spring of 2020.
Each scene told stories of mental health, disconnection in friendships and the complications of technology while quarantining. Cast members included Virginia Pike, Misty Wills, Ally Huizenga, Sha Sanders, Aidan Kurth, Gracie McBride, Rachel Freeman and Anna Schierbaum.
“What we are seeing is simply them,” Virginia Pike, director of Crashing Into Silence, said. “Trying to do theater on Zoom is not ideal. However, it gave us an opportunity to find ways to use our student’s talents and creativity; that was an advantage.”
Original production started over Christmas break and cast members got creative in writing poems, songs and dance numbers. As the cast rehearsed virtually over the break and into the spring semester, they could write scenes and produce songs for their classmates. Throughout the production process, the students were able to work behind the scenes with the camera and lighting, along with their role as cast members.
“In theater, we have to become the character. With this, we get to be ourselves and share our vulnerability,” Ally Huizenga, an MCA sophomore said. “If it were in person, I would just be there as a cast member. I wouldn’t know what was happening with the lighting or writing scenes or filming.”
Though this is King's’ first original musical on Zoom, this process has shown that the performing arts can thrive amidst a pandemic.
“It’s a way to bring the student body together even if students aren’t interested in theater,” Pike said.
This Zoomsical allowed for friends and family members of the cast to attend the musical even if they were states away. The audience could open up their laptop screens and support the arts without the time commitment or travel difficulties of attending it in person.
Though there were challenges along the way, this Zoomsical allowed students to find different creative outlets and connect to an audience, even if only through a screen.