There’s a ray of sunshine among the cloudy skies. Arts Live Theatre has found a way to keep kids involved in theater without having to set foot on a physical stage.
The Fayetteville-based youth theater program has launched the Virtual Theatre Project, a chance for kids to get creative and connect remotely when so many of them are stuck inside. Artists 18 years of age and younger can create a monologue, scene, poem, piece of music, painting — anything creative — and send the video (maximum of 90 seconds) to virtualalt2020@gmail.com. Arts Live Theatre will create compilations videos to share online.
For older actors, ages 12-18, Arts Live Theatre is launching a video conference series artists can join remotely for play readings and discussions about the theatre. Stay tuned for that!
Mark Landon Smith, the executive director of Arts Live Theatre, says the response has been great so far and they have already received a few videos just days after launching on March 17. Several young artists and their parents, and the community at large, have responded with great appreciation and enthusiasm.
“We are so looking forward to seeing what these young artists create,” Smith says. “And as Arts Live is a nonprofit, any donations to contribute to our continuing to provide arts education and opportunities for young artists will be needed and appreciated.”
A donate button is available on the ArtsLiveTheatre.com home page.
Mark Landon Smith is also the founder of Actors Casting Agency. Earlier this month, he was the recipient of a 2020 Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist. The Arts Live Theatre offers the Virtual Theatre Academy as an online resource for theatre projects and educational videos to keep young artists engaged, connected and learning. Information on all projects can be found at artslivetheatre.com, Facebook and Instagram pages.
READ MORE: Setting the Stage: Fayetteville’s TheatreSquared
