Arts News

The show goes on safely during the COVID-19 pandemic

Visual and Performing Arts Fall Concert

Saint Mary's Visual and Performing Arts Department presented an innovative COVID-safe fall performance limited due to the virus to the campus community - Fresh Air, Fresh Perspectives, Fresh Performances - in the beautiful outdoor venues around campus, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. The performances and the socially distanced, masked audience traveled from the steps of Smedes Hall to the Grove to the steps of Pittman Auditorium and Chan-Poyner Hall to the Hannah Smith '12 Quad and the new Victory Bell Pavilion.

The Chorale, with members distanced six feet apart, performed protest songs from the 1960s, with messages still relevant today, including We Shall Overcome, People Get Ready, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, This Land is Your Land, and Blowin' in the Wind.

Orchesis Dance Theatre performed modern dances, a contemporary ballet, and a jazz finale. Interspersed between dances were two vocal performances featuring Joni Mitchell classics and readings by Maya Angelou.

Visual arts students displayed their work. There was even a video performance by a student now in China. Truly a performing arts spectacular!

Fall Theatre Production

Brava, to the cast of Saint Mary's exquisitely performed and produced fall theatre production Medea, Euripides' Greek tragedy, performed in November outdoors on the Pavilion on the Hannah Smith '12 Quad with socially distanced seating for limited sized audiences. Medea, performed in 431 BCE, is one of Euripides’ most powerful and best-known plays. Medea is a remarkable study of injustice and ruthless revenge. Most of the actors wore masks as part of their costumes and the entire audience was masked up - perfect symmetry and safety for theatre performed in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well done, Saint Mary's thespians and director Michelle Wells!