Try out for a musical
Falmouth Theatre Guild will hold in-person auditions from 6 to 9 p.m. May 19 and 20, and 2 to 5 p.m. May 22 for the lead roles in its planned fall production of the musical
“Carousel.” Individual try-outs will be held at Highfield Theater, 58 Highfield Dr., Falmouth.
The show is due to run Oct. 22 to Nov. 7, and all involved with the production will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While other auditions will be in August, the five leads in this romance are being cast early so actors will have months of access to rehearsal tracks and there can be summer work with the director.
Area musicians and bands were playing, sometimes on tour, with many more dates lined up.
Then everything shut down.
And so did hundreds of local people’s jobs, hobbies, creative outlets and social lives.
Unlike reopening restaurants, museums, art galleries and shops, it’s been nearly impossible to produce or welcome audiences to live theater shows and concerts for the past year beyond small outdoor, drive-in or one-actor/one-musician shows. There are glimmers of hope for live events in coming months, but many people believe large-group entertainment may be the last part of the arts and life to get back to “normal” once the pandemic eases.
Dance fans who have had to miss programs at The Yard in Chilmark because of the need to ferry to the island can experience some winter/spring programs presented virtually through the Martha’s Vineyard company.
After the Yard’s 2020 season had to be canceled, new executive director Chloe Jones has set up a program to continue dance creation, performance and education this year “with a COVID-19 perspective.” There are several winter and spring events on tap for various ages and, behind the scenes, there will be residencies on and off the island to support new work.
Programs are ticketed on a pay-what-you-can basis.