The Show Must Go On
Gray and Rudolph’s senior project was originally supposed to be performed around the campus duck pond and be part of Ampersand Day, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, the students are adapting to the current state of the world, and the entirely student-led production will still take place - virtually.
“A big theme for us has been adapting and rolling with the punches so social distancing was just going to be our greatest challenge yet,” says Gray, director of Julius Caesar.“The way we’ve been dealing with those challenges is facing them head on rather than trying to run away from them.”
The students are embracing the limitations of Zoom, where they are rehearsing and performing the production. E&H student Jake Price adapted Julius Caesar into a modern aesthetic, so the characters themselves interact with each other via Zoom, Facebook, and text messages to tell the story.
“The audience gets to feel like they are a part of those conversations as they watch at home from their own devices,” says Gray.
Although it has been challenging, Gray says faculty and classmates have been a great support system.
“Dr. Bremner has been so encouraging and supportive through this whole process and pushed me to explore ways to continue the production,” she says. “I’m just so grateful to my cast because they have been so flexible and enthusiastic about all the crazy things I’ve thrown at them.”
The production will take place on May 2 at 7 p.m. on YouTube. Audiences can follow their journey on Instagram and Twitter @ehcCaesar or on Facebook at Julius Caesar at Emory. To read more about the production and the artists involved, go to https://sites.google.com/view/ehccaesar/home.
The cast of Julius Caesar rehearses on Zoom
- Julius Caesar will premiere May 2.
A big theme for us has been adapting and rolling with the punches so social distancing was just going to be our greatest challenge yet. The way we’ve been dealing with those challenges is facing them head on rather than trying to run away from them.
- Camille Gray