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Conclusion

Some class consensus on successful virtual theatre experiences:
  • Must attempt to create a community
  • Must have some kind of engagement, audience Interactivity. Resist passive viewing.
  • Resist simply doing "table readings" or "screen readings" of plays
  • The work must embrace the awareness of itself as existing in technology
  • the work must know its target Audience
  • Acting for virtual requires reconciliation with self-consciousness, as the camera requires you to face yourself.
Group Thoughts On Best Practices:
  1. All zoom plays should consider the presence and perspective of the audience. Make a choice between whether the play acknowledges being virtual or if it doesn’t. Here’s a tip for a writer, director, and or performer on zoom: Enlist your collaborators on the plot of the story. (Playwright) Ask as many questions as possible (Director) Come with bold choices (Actor) and don't be afraid to fail hard.
  2. All zoom plays should consider the importance of plot and an engaging story.  All zoom plays need to make a choice between audience participation being active or passive--some do not like participating, does it have to be mandatory?  tip for writer/director/performer: always think about the view of the audience—what is their perspective? You need more energy, exaggeration, and attention in a zoom show. performers need to understand how the camera mirrors the image. what is your mindset on the format? the work is only achievable if you believe it is possible. the technology will allow you to do more than you think
  3.  All zoom plays should consider specific audience interaction and the role of the camera and extreme clarity in the rules of its world. All zoom plays should choose between ambition and practicality. Here’s a tip for a writer/director/performer on zoom: consider if show/story is appropriate in virtual theatre - what aspects can be elevated/benefit from zoom, and which aspects are additionally challenging? Subvert your expectations during the creation & collaborative process: zoom will change how you usually function. Do your best to create an environment where actors can react/engage actively with scene partners; actors’ focus should be intentional to engage with a partner.
Conclusion