New York Tristate

New York Film Academy

Class Is (Back) in Session

“Back to school” takes on a whole new meaning for these four students who have returned to in-person learning after 18 months on Zoom

By Matthew Nerber

THOUGH THERE IS STILL SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY, THE INDUSTRY IS

beginning to bounce back from the pandemic. The next generation of actors and creators are returning to in-person training after a year and a half. So what’s it like to be back in class in the age of COVID-19? Here, four college students from around the country share their thoughts on where we are and where we need to go.

What were your expectations leading up to the fall semester?

ALEXA ST. CLAIR, BFA IN MUSICAL

THEATER, ROWAN UNIVERSITY: I was nervous all summer because I didn’t know what to expect. I was like, What if I don’t like class in person? I loved it so much over Zoom. But luckily, I was able to do a lot of theater this past summer, and that kind of got me back in the swing of things—into performing and being in the theater scene again.

ALYSSA MARCHANT, BFA IN ACTING, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY:

I was always hoping that we’d be back, that we’d be maskless. But I knew that was pretty unrealistic. It was, like, two weeks before school actually started again that the mask mandate came back. The main thing was that we were coming back with a full in-person season, and there was still so much unknown about [how that would work].

CHRISTOPHER PORTLEY, MFA IN ACTING, CASE WESTERN RESERVE

UNIVERSITY: My expectation of going back [in] the fall was for my institution to reflect the world, reflect humanity, reflect Black people, people of color, women— reflect it all and not minimize it. [I wanted my school] to create a space where it is welcoming of Black people and people of color, and for us to tell our stories, to continue to take the initiative, to be proactive rather than reactive.

VICTORIA MOZITIS, BFA IN MUSICAL

THEATER, RIDER UNIVERSITY: I definitely was going back [to campus], whether class was online or not. Of course, I feel like throughout the past year and a half, I’ve learned not to expect anything. I was hoping to go back fully in-person, but there were still those doubts.

How has it been so far?

ASC: As of now, masks are required in every class. In all my performance classes, we are wearing masks. And while it’s not ideal, it could be worse; we could be on Zoom! Myself, my professors, my peers—we’re just so happy to be together.

AM: We’ve been rehearsing masked and social-distanced. But for the performances themselves, we’re going to be maskless. As soon as we’re offstage, we whip a mask on backstage. Just being back in rehearsals is weird, but it almost feels like it’s been no time.

CP: We’re fully in-person. We have masks when we’re in spaces with each other, and we make sure we’re sanitizing and stuff like that. But we’re in the space with each other, which is really great, even in that capacity.

VM: I took in-person class for granted, especially my dance classes. I have a jazz class this semester, and in the first class, our energy was amazing. And I feel like I’ve improved as a dancer because now I’m enjoying taking up space and dancing with other people.

What can universities be doing better during this time?

ASC: I think we can all be a little more sensitive. This is a pandemic; this is something nobody has experienced before. We can take a step back, be a little more empathetic [and] understanding, continue these conversations about mask safety and vaccinations, and just listen a little bit more to everyone.