Sunriver Stars Community Theater Offers Virtual Showcases on YouTube Channel by LYNETTE CONFER
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or almost a year now we have all been navigating murky waters… unclear of when we can get back to the things we enjoy most. Being together, giving hugs, going to sporting events, going to the movie theater… and even more fun and exciting, going to see live theater! Stages have been dark, spotlights dim, no rehearsals, tech week, opening night, matinees, standing ovations and sold out shows! But, never fear! Sunriver Stars Community Theater (SSCT) has been working hard to stay innovative and creative in their approach to continue to offer performing arts to loyal community supporters and audience. Our world has never needed arts and entertainment more! A few months ago, then SSCT President, Renee Anderson, dreamed of a way to connect SSCT performers and artists to their audience, even expanding the potential audience, for the local community theater group. SSCT has been part of the Sunriver community since 2012. Through the years, SSCT’s audience has grown and many look forward to the regular SSCT annual performance schedule. But, last year’s performance schedule was, of course, interrupted by the COVID pandemic.
February 14, the second SSCT virtual production was released to the SSCT YouTube channel. This video program entitled Kid’s Valentine’s Video Spectacular features Stars Kids, part of the SSCT’s family of performers. This particular group of Stars range in age from kindergarten through eighth grade. The following youth Stars are featured in this new Valentine’s Video Spectacular: Saydi Miller, McKinley Grant, Crusade Grant, Malakai Grant, Jovi Mae Grant, Danny Hartman, Luke Hartman, Rowan Kristy-Thompson, Kieran Kristy-Thompson, Olive Bailey, Otillie Bailey, Catalina Krislyn, Niko Owens, Spud Wright, Emma Davis, Clara Davis and Talon Confer.
Directed by Michele Hans (SSCT director of Children’s Programming) with video editing done by Renee Anderson, this production of the Kid’s Valentine’s Video Spectacular is a great example of a “labor of love” for those involved. As a nonprofit entity, SSCT’s Board of Directors, cast, crew and all those involved in their productions, are volunteers. One skit that appears in this most recent YouTube video program, entitled Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad, is an original take on the classic First, SSCT created a YouTube Little Red Riding Hood. In this skit, ‘the channel as a way to upload videos of big bad COVID’ is the threat, and ‘Dr. productions and performances. A link Fauci’ makes an appearance on screen. SuperHeroes of Kindness kids: (L-R) Otillie Bailey, Kieran Kristy-Thompson, to this YouTube channel can be found For production of this skit, SSCT Rowan Kristy-Thompson and Olive Bailey | Photos courtesy of Sunriver Stars Community Theater on SSCT’s website at sunriverstars. provided a traveling backdrop, a tripod org. Once it was clear that regular with circle lighting and all the costumes. live performances were not going to be possible, Anderson and the other Each actor filmed their portion of the skit in the safety of their own homes. SSCT Board members began thinking of ways to keep actors acting and This required collaboration among Stars families to get the equipment audiences watching. transferred in a safe and timely manner, film their performance on their own and then email final footage to Anderson for final splicing and editing. “I came up with the idea of having actors film their own scenes in the safety of their own homes, or within pods using COVID-19 safety protocols,” stated Another original video short available on the SSCT YouTube channel Anderson. “I then stitched all of the individual videos together into a larger showcases Stars kids in Kindness is our Super Power! This video features show for YouTube.” the following Stars kids ranging in age from three-seven: Kieran KristyThompson, Rowan Kristy-Thompson, Olive Bailey and Otillie Bailey. The first such production was the SSCT Sunriver Stars Virtual Holiday (Continued on Page 24) Showcase. This video montage features actors and performers of all ages. On
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March 2021 | www.CascadeAE.com
