By Kelsey Dixon//
The Hood College Theatre Program is planning to put on productions again for the first time in about two years, starting with “Romeo and Juliet” in August 2021.
Aaron Angello, poet, theatre artist and professor at Hood, has continued to look for ways to share and promote his and his students’ work during these trying times. The Frederick Shakespeare Festival, an event which takes place at Hood during the summer, was put on hold last summer due to the pandemic. Angello plans to have at least two mainstage productions a year with a musical in the spring.
“We will continually offer students opportunities to act in and direct multiple shows, as many as we can, in addition to the mainstage production in our theater,” Angello said. “We will partner with student groups to develop new work and we will provide opportunities for students to work with professional artists in the community.”
Now that the pandemic restrictions are loosening, Angello intends to give every student the opportunity to participate and be a part of the theater community.
“I’m so excited to help guide Hood College Theatre into a new era, one that is high-quality, student-centered, and above all, fun,” Angello said.
Also in the realm of the creative arts, Angello’s creative writing students performed their poetry and fiction in an online setting that was live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook on April 30.
As things are starting to get back to normal with the rollout of vaccines, Hood’s creative arts organizations are getting back into action.
Hood College Student Musical Theatre (HCSMT) and Hood College Dance Ensemble, both organizations run by student leaders, are coming out of the woodworks with their COVID-19 friendly events. Junior Rylan Lutz, vice president of HCSMT, says she is excited to reunite with fellow castmates and members as restrictions are loosening.
Averaging at about 25 performers, 10-15 stage crew and design students, and a usual audience of around 100-150 people, HCSMT expects to produce a full-length spring musical next year.
“Rest assured Hood College’s Student Musical Theatre will be following all COVID guidelines necessary in order to protect the safety of our audience, performers and crew members. Spring of 2022 is looking great, and we can’t wait to see what next year has in store for our comeback in performing,” Lutz said.
HCSMT is keeping students engaged with Zoom events and just recently held a musical jeopardy night on April 23. They are planning to hold a musical trivia kahoot game and virtual karaoke event and will be running a booth at the Queer Student Union Safe Sex Carnival this May.
Hood’s Dance Ensemble has also made sure to incorporate COVID-friendly events. Senior co-captains Caroline Jeranek and Maggie George have made efforts to continue member engagement by having weekly rehearsals and incorporating a lot of social media activity.
Pre-COVID, the club would usually host a fall and spring concert and perform at sports events, SGA events, and modeling club events. Last semester, members of the dance ensemble team recorded dances weekly and posted them to HCDE’s Instagram page (@hc_danceensemble) in place of having their fall performance. This semester, with about 12 members, the Dance Ensemble was able to host a spring performance on April 23 and 24.
“With help and advice from Hood’s staff, we figured out how to have a show this semester and ensure proper social distancing is met,” Jeranek said. The club is looking forward to holding their bi-annual fall and spring performances and getting the community and students more involved.
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