CU Presents pivots to digital performances
In a typical spring, the CU 麻豆影院 campus would be bustling with preparation for the opening night of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which was set for June 6, 2020. In the face of COVID-19, however, the festival and all other in-person musical and theatrical performances on campus have been postponed until further notice.
But the show must go on.
CU Presents, which represents many performing arts units鈥攊ncluding the College of Music, Department of Theater & Dance, and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival鈥攈as created a way to keep its performers and audiences connected from a socially safe distance.
鈥淚n normal times, we鈥檇 be running shows year-round,鈥 said Laima Haley, marketing and PR director for CU Presents. 鈥淲e thought: How can we create a space where people can still come and enjoy performances?鈥
invites audiences to watch, listen and gather with the campus performing arts community online. Each week, a mix of old and will be posted on the platform鈥攎ost never before available to the public. Videos include everything from Beethoven sonatas on piano and this spring鈥檚 theater and dance senior showcase, to .
[video:https://youtu.be/PlXbCirAN1w]
The new platform has only been available for a few weeks but already includes all kinds of novel content.
Eleven students pursuing Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in acting recently came together to perform a 鈥攗sing only their voices. Rehearsed in only four weeks, the performance was the first of its kind for the Department of Theatre & Dance.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the College of Music brought together the campus community remotely to celebrate the end of the 2020 spring semester and, as a marching band, .
Their goals are twofold, according to Haley: to provide an outlet for students and faculty who would normally be able to perform and promote their work in person; and to stay connected with local communities and broader audiences, who normally would enjoy attending these events on campus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been inspiring to watch so much creativity arise out of our community,鈥 said Haley. 鈥淲hile the near future of performing arts is not known in Colorado, there鈥檚 always going to be a future for this kind of digital engagement.鈥