Laredo Community College issued the following announcement.
After almost half a year without any local arts or cultural events and with most entertainment venues shut down, the usual sights of overflowing stages, galleries, halls and corridors filled with budding artists, musicians and other talented performers seem like distant memories. To help revive the local artistic spirit, Laredo College found an innovative way to bring back the treasured live theater experience whilst still abiding by health and safety guidelines and keeping all participants safe.
Although drive-in movie theaters are making a comeback around the world due to the pandemic, the idea of a drive-in live theater performance is an exciting and innovative prospect. This original play is timelier than ever as it will center around a skeptical man who denies the existence of the virus only to fall ill after contracting it and having his life turned upside down.
Titled “The COVID Drive-In Musical,” this lively play will have a four-day run with three showings per night from Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 4. The first show begins at 7 p.m. and is followed by a couple of other performances at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in different parking lots at the historic Ft. McIntosh Campus.
The elaborate project is the brainchild of Laredo College Theater Director William “Bill” Hauserman, and it is a collaboration between Laredo College and various local artists, many of whom are prominent members of Texas A&M International University, the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts and Laredo Theater Guild International.
The script was written by Chris Morgan, Zone Nguyen, Joe Molina and Kassandra De Hoyos while the music and lyrics were created by Chris Morgan, Billy Thatcher, Miguel Saito, Joe Molina, Carlos A. Morales Jr., Colin Campbell, Armando X. Lopez, Stephen Foster, Mary Grace Carroll and Stephanie Solis Schnyder.
“Our drive-in live play is yet another example of how Laredo College has taken all the challenges presented by the pandemic and turned them into opportunities for innovation and growth,” Laredo College President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis said. “We are excited to be able to provide this kind of entertainment for our community while keeping everyone safe.”
The audience will watch the show from inside their cars, like at a drive-in movie, even though the action will be live and not a film. They will hear the dialogue and songs through their car radios. The story is told in four scenes with only two actors performing per scene. All the actors are either married couples or will be wearing masks and practicing social distancing. The actors will travel parade-style to several clusters of audience cars.
The educational play is family-friendly and people from the same household are encouraged to make it a family evening to enjoy themselves while staying safe and following all health and safety guidelines. The audience will be placed in shaded areas that were strategically chosen for maximum comfort and a great viewing experience.
The community is invited to get their tickets, which are symbolically priced at $20.20 in honor of this eventful year, as soon as possible since space is limited. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness exceptional live entertainment, support local artists and enjoy a night out with the family.
Tickets can be purchased here. For more information, the public may call (956) 721-5334.
Original source can be found here.
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