BUTTE — Coronavirus (COVID-19) may have temporarily closed the curtain on the Orphan Girl Children’s Theater in Butte, but the show must go on.
The non-profit theater found a way to do performances while still maintaining social distance – by performing their shows online via Zoom.
“There is a sense of intimacy that does get lost, but then you see all the people who are watching it and they’re commenting and they’re having real-time conversations with you about the content, about the performances, and I feel like that is the way that we can connect in this time and when we can’t physically be together,” said OGCT Artistic Director Jackie Vetter.
Organizers of the children’s theater knew it was important to find a way to keep it going during the quarantine because the more than 300 young people involved in the program have a very tight connection with the theater.
“And we do have a lot of kids who find solace and comfort in being at the theater and we are family members to them, and their friends are their family too,” said Vetter.
Performing plays without a stage or other traditional methods have forced the actors and directors to come up with creative ways to tell their stories.
“So, what are the big picture things? How do we connect with the audience? How do we show them what we’re trying to say when you don’t have costumes, when you don’t have a set? So, we’re having to adjust the way we’re thinking about directing,” said Vetter.
The Orphan Girl Children’s Theater will host its fourth annual 10/24 Festival on May 16 at 7 p.m. People are being encouraged to donate to the theater.
