Like all other theatre companies in the country, the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans was forced to cut short their spring production in March of 2020. TWTC was just weeks away from opening its production of In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel when Loyola stopped on-campus activity. “The next several weeks were spent doing the most unglamorous part of theatre: refunding tickets and searching for hope,” said Co-Artistic Director Augustin J. Correro. “We are grateful that many patrons allowed us to use their purchases instead as donations.”
Although TWTC hasn’t been able to produce any live, in-person performances in over a year, it has continued to produce theatre. It has live-streamed several Zoom performances since last March under the name “No Pants Shakespeare,” featuring local actors, directors, and even some TAD alumni. In just a few weeks, TWTC will be presenting an original, completely digital show, The Felt Menagerie, for the 2021 Tennessee Williams Festival.
Though these Zoom performances have somewhat scratched TWTC’s itch to create, Correro says there is nothing quite like live theatre. “Audiences as well as artists have been feeling the pain,” he said.
As a theatre company-in-residence at Loyola, TWTC is accustomed to working with Loyola students in classes and on productions. However, the pandemic has derailed its plans to do so. “We can’t wait to engage Loyola students again as soon as we can,” said Correro. “COVID safety is necessary, but it does hinder us from creating much of the magic we are known for.” Correro hopes to get back to working with students this fall and is slated to direct TAD’s production of Metamorphoses whenever it is safe to do so.
TWTC has plans to return post-pandemic and produce shows safely. “People are going to want the release that theatre offers, so we want to bounce back and give them meaningful, touching, and innovative experiences again...as soon as safely possible,” said Correro.
By Madeline Taliancich