CITRUS COLLEGE ARTS STAY ACTIVE DURING PANDEMIC
During a public health crisis that has greatly impacted the output of art throughout the world, the Citrus College Visual and Performing Arts Division found innovative ways to remain active and produce several projects virtually, ranging from art exhibits to live and prerecorded productions.
When the pandemic struck last year, the division faced several challenges, including learning how to teach and connect with students in a remote environment and how to transition its ensemble touring schedule, visual art exhibits and performing arts season into a new digital environment.
Despite these obstacles, the visual and performing arts division and the Haugh Performing Arts Center collaborated to deliver a handful of projects, some of which were mixed and edited, while others were livestreamed.
Examples include the college's theatre arts program performing "A Christmas Carol" and a summer production of "The 39 Steps." With every performance, faculty and staff worked with the Haugh Performing Arts Center to highlight students. "I applaud our students, faculty and staff for embracing challenges and finding new ways to create incredible performances," said the college superintendent/president. "I am confident that the resilience and resourcefulness developed during this time will help prepare students for their future endeavors."
In addition to theatre arts productions, there have also been several performances in the past several months from the Citrus Singers, Speakeasy, Night Shift and the Blue Note Orchestra. A total of 15 videos were produced, with each taking months to create.
And there's more on the way!
Later this spring, theatre arts will showcase Citrus College student Caitlin Griffin's "Mad to Live," a screenplay set during World War II, which will be performed online June 4-6. A virtual performance from the Citrus Singers is also in the works.
This article originally appeared in the April 2021 edition of the Citrus View.