THE ROGUE THEATRE

ROGUE THEATRE goes live this fall

By Beverly Medlyn

The Rogue Theatre is among the first in Tucson to resume performances this fall, offering patrons presentations of great literary works in two formats: live and online.

“Even though we are asking the audience to socially distance, there is still the sense of community in a theater, which is so important to all of us,” says Cynthia Meier, managing director. “But if people don’t feel comfortable coming to the theater, we will make professional three-camera videos of all our productions so they can watch at home.”

The 170-seat theater at 300 E. University Blvd. is selling tickets in advance for a reduced audience of 45 people, with seating spaced six feet apart in every other row. Masks are worn by everyone. Temperature screenings are done prior to entrance; no walk-up ticket sales. The snack bar is closed. Deep cleaning is completed after every performance.

A pre-recorded audio soundscape is created for each play, including vocals, spoken lines, music and sound effects for the actors’ masked performances, Meier says.

“It’s a way to keep our actors safe and our audiences safe,” she says. “We are creating a new form this season with these theatrical pieces. I believe audience members will find them fascinating.”

The Rogue Theatre is fortunate to have a strong financial base this year thanks to generous support and a “rainy day” fund, but Meier is concerned about what happens next year.

“It is really important to stay positive and strong and discover ways that we can interact and be creative with our audiences,” she says.

For more information, visit theroguetheatre.org.