Hello All,
I’m writing to you today, a year after Covid brought us to a collective halt, effectively closing the chapter on daily life as we knew it in, what is now commonly referred to as, “the before times”. So much has transpired in the last 365+ days, and it’s my sincere hope that this letter finds you safe and in good health, with impassioned understanding of the systemic issues embedded in our society, and the focus to be vocal and active in the work to dismantle these systems while envisioning a better way forward.
I am a big believer in transparency, so I would like to share my thought process over the past months regarding SitW, and how I have arrived at the following decisions. Bear with me.
Though this is definitely not the news I want to be sharing with you, again, I feel a responsibility to cast, crew, and audience well-being, and therefore I must announce the continued postponement of a live SitW season. There has been progress on various levels to reopen and establish “normal” living, and I feel continued gratitude for the gains being made as the vaccines make their way to individuals and communities the world over, but we just aren’t there yet.
As the Artistic Director of SitW, I believe that it’s important to recognize our limitations as a very young entity without an established infrastructure and substantial financial resources that would allow us to navigate “reopening” during Covid with significant ease. In fact, I feel it’s impossible to successfully plan for a live performance season, while conditions continue to be in such a fragile state of flux with no guarantees. For well-established arts organizations that do have long-standing financial resources, there’s ability to make a last minute decision about an intended performance season, but for us that is just not possible. The reality for SitW, as a newcomer in the arts field, is that it requires several months of planning and fundraising, while knowing from the get go that there will be a produced season. When it became clear in March 2020 that a season could not take place, I suspended all fundraising activity during a time of sudden economic hardship for so many, and then believed it crucial to instead reinforce concentration on supporting Black and trans led movements, organizations, relief efforts when long-overdue collective attention appeared to finally be focused on marginalized communities.
While regarding the significance of fundraising, there’s also the actual gathering for a show itself, which in reality, would’ve been the easiest aspect of the season. Distanced seating, temperature checks, contact tracing info, etc. is not without hurdles, but would be manageable on the small, outdoor scale we work in. The true difficulties of ensuring a safe season lie in all of the working parts before the shows that the audience doesn’t see (though there is concern for actor-actor contact during a performance as well). In our first season, over 20 artists came to stay in Manchester for roughly 2 months, split between 2 housing locations and integrating into town life, with daily rehearsals during the week, while on weekends it was common for at least a few people to be traveling out of state for various obligations. I share all of this because these details were final factors in the decision that I could not reasonably, and responsibly, see a path forward that allowed us to maintain safety protocols with a group of this size (largely made up of a demographic who doesn’t know when it will be fully vaccinated) and the realities that come with living on location for a substantial amount of time, not to mention keeping in mind health and safety of the broader Manchester community. We just don’t have the resources yet to manage it on a level I am comfortable with. This is important for everyone’s safety, and important for the standard of work I hold for SitW’s productions. It would be so tempting to cut corners and rush to make a season happen, and that would come at the direct cost of both these things.
As of this writing, vaccination rollout is improving, but is not yet to a stage where it’s a guarantee that everyone will have access to it and be fully vaccinated by mid-summer (when we would typically begin rehearsals). This also does not take into account the very real accessibility hurdles for marginalized groups that continue to be overlooked despite being the most high-risk for the virus. The idea of only auditioning and hiring folx who can prove they have been vaccinated, when accessibility is such a blatant issue, is discriminatory, and as far as I’m concerned, has no place in our creative work spaces.
Now, to share the much deserved good news.
In September, I spoke about the necessity of asking ourselves, as creatives, the crucial questions: who is your art for and why is it demanding to exist? I also left you with words of inspiration from Duke Senior. I now have the privilege of sharing the news that SitW will be bringing the Forest of Arden right into your homes. In lieu of a live performance season, SitW will be mounting a small film production of As You Like It, shot in the awesome early fall landscape we know and love in the Green Mountains. To capture the depth and beauty of these natural offerings, SitW will be teaming up with Pro Love Visuals, a Film Production Company from Long Island, NY, led by Cinematographer Marcus Lewis(he/him),who previously photographed our 2019 Romeo and Juliet. I’m thrilled to also share that non-binary, multi-disciplinary artist, K. Paley(they/theirs) will be joining SitW once again for this project. Their previous collaborations include Transport Group (NYC), the Long Wharf Theatre (CT), Ensemble Theatre Co. (CA), the Core Ensemble (FL), and, of course, the inaugural season of Shakespeare in the Woods (VT). Here, K share a glimpse at their directorial vision:
“As You Like It explores the space between societal constructs and human nature. Where does our understanding of gender, sexuality, and status come from? How do these concepts begin to shift as we move away from society into unknown territory? Humans are influenced by two forces: nature and nurture. What happens when the confines of societal law no longer apply? As You Like It sets sisterhood against ego and individualism. The complexity of masculinity is explored through a feminine gaze; thus, we may examine ways in which everyone, regardless of gender, contributes either to the fortification of gender roles, or to their destruction. What does a world look like that is free of patriarchal limitations? We may never know, but we can certainly imagine.”
This project demands to exist in this moment, for all those who will see familiarity, confront a change in outlook, or find help broaching conversations. This production seeks to blur the boundaries between film and theatre, while allowing SitW to continue thought provoking work in collaboration with the natural world, and best of all, will enable us to connect with audiences in a safe manner. With film, there is an exciting opportunity to bring Vermont’s landscape right into the home. A perk that comes with this change of medium, that I am thoroughly excited about, is that folx who might not have been able to join us in person in Vermont will now be able to have a full experience regardless of location.
The budget for realizing this film is $18,000, however, thanks to SitW’s fruitful opening season, our goal is to raise $12,000. With this money, SitW will be able to compensate all members of the creative team for their time and work. Though this is a non-union film, we will be using the industry rates for micro-budget productions as a framework to ensure fair wages. This figure also factors in housing for non-locals throughout the 7-day shoot, film equipment, costumes and props, and post-production such as editing, sound design, and color-correction.
Your donation to the film invests in SitW’s future, which I mean to be a long and sustainable one in the Green Mountains. We need your support through this “alternate season”. Your fiscal support of this project directly enables artists to be monetarily valued for their work, and strengthens the performing arts community which has been especially devastated by the disappearance of work opportunities during the pandemic.
When you donate to SitW, you are enabling us to grow and continue our presence, as well as helping unconventional art get out into the world. If you’ve made it to the end of this letter, thank you! Each and every bit of enthusiasm you share for all I envision SitW to be is endlessly appreciated.
