BARNARD — The setting might be different, but the enthusiasm of the performers is the same for this year’s BarnArts Summer Youth Theater production.
“I’ve never done a play outside before. It’s a very different experience,” said Alex Hoyt, who is playing the title role in the group’s production of Shrek Jr. “Doing it in this new space has been quite the experience, and we’re having a lot of fun doing it.”
The performances, which kick off Thursday and run through Sunday, will take place at Feast & Field in Barnard. Audience members will be sitting at least 12 feet away from performers and spaced out for social distancing.
“The acoustics are nowhere to be found. When you say your line and you sing, you really have to project. You have to be really loud,” said Hoyt, a Tunbridge resident turning 13 this month. “The really bad joke we’ve been saying is if your grandmother is in the back row you want her to hear you.”
During indoor rehearsals, the more than 20 student performers have had to wear masks, even when singing, Hoyt said. It was initially difficult to get used to.
“It became a routine,” Hoyt said.
Playing the role of Shrek has been a new challenge for Hoyt, who said he’s usually played more comedic characters in the past.
“I’ve never really gotten to play a role that gets deep into emotion. It’s a really different experience for me,” he said. “It was really cool and BarnArts really helped with that.”
CLAREMONT — The Claremont Opera House will host the Claremont Repertory Theater’s production of Through the Eyes of Neverland beginning Friday.
The annual summer theater production had been in the works for months when COVID-19 hit and its future was initially uncertain. In late June, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu began easing restrictions and the theater organization decided the show would go on.
“We looked over that information very carefully to make sure we’re dotting all our i’s and crossing all our t’s to keep people safe,” said Stacy Bathrick, who is directing the show along with Larissa Cahill and Craig Woodbury.
During indoor rehearsals, the nearly 30 cast members wear masks, which are not required during the performances. Audience members will be spaced out with six-feet of distance through the 700-plus theater seats, Bathrick said.
“Family groups will be able to sit together,” Bathrick said. People are asked to wear masks while entering and moving around the theater, but can take them off once they’re seated.
Bathrick came up with the idea for Through the Eyes of Neverland after seeing the 2017 movie Wonder, which was told from the point of view of multiple characters.
“I really like the way that was put together in the movie and I’ve always loved the Peter Pan story. It’s a beloved story to many so I thought it would be interesting to do the Peter Pan story from that vantage point,” she said. She was further inspired by 2001 film A Knight’s Tale, which starred Heath Ledger and incorporated modern music. “That was the other piece of my vision.”
Brandi Laplante wrote the script, which features the perspectives of Wendy, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and Peter Pan. Both children and adults are playing roles in the production.
“In this time of the pandemic it’s been a challenge, but it’s definitely been worthwhile,” Bathrick said. “It’s been a wonderful example of older actors mentoring younger actors. They’ve become a real close family and they’re very, very excited to put on this show for the community.”
Here’s a look at Upper Valley-based events taking place over the next few days.
■Virtually drop by the League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair from now through Sunday at nhcrafts.org/virtual-craftsmens-fair.
■Novelist Stephen Kiernan will discuss his latest book, Universe of Two, during a virtual event with the Norwich Bookstore at 7 p.m. Email virtualSK@norwichbookstore.com for link.
■Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, founder of the dance company Urban Bush Women, will participate in a discussion with Daniel Bernard Roumain, violinist, composer and Roth Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Dartmouth College, about artistic responses to the pandemic and protests from 8-8:30 p.m. on YouTube Live. hop.dartmouth.edu/events/jawole-willa-jo-zollar.
■BarnArts Summer Youth Theater presents a preview of Shrek Jr. at 6:30 p.m. at Feast and Field, at 1544 Royalton Turnpike. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at barnarts.org.
■Free, reusable face masks will be distributed from 3-7 p.m. at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Parking Lot No. 9 behind Jesse’s Steakhouse on Route 120 on the Hanover/Lebanon town line by members of the Rotary Clubs of Hanover and Lebanon, the Upper Valley Business Alliance and Upper Valley Young Professionals. https://bit.ly/maskupuv.
■BarnArts Summer Youth Theater presents Shrek Jr. at 6:30 p.m. at Feast and Field, at 1544 Royalton Turnpike. Tickets are $8-$12 and can be purchased at barnarts.org.
■The Claremont Repertory Theater will perform Through the Eyes of Neverland during a socially distanced show at the Claremont Opera House at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5-$10 and can be purchased at the door. claremontoperahouse.org.
■Stream a production of Spaceship 99, written by Dartmouth College student Naomi Lam and directed by Carol Dunne at 8 p.m. Lam is the winner of the 2020 Ruth & Loring Dodd Playwriting Contest. Visit theater.dartmouth.edu for link.
■Sabrina & the Jazz Cats will perform from 7-7:30 p.m. as part of Fairlee Community Arts COVID Concert Series. Find like at fairleearts.org.
■Free, reusable face masks will be distributed from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Parking Lot No. 9 behind Jesse’s Steakhouse on Route 120 on the Hanover/Lebanon town line by members of the Rotary Clubs of Hanover and Lebanon, the Upper Valley Business Alliance and Upper Valley Young Professionals. https://bit.ly/maskupuv.
■Stop by Huse Park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for the Enfield Summer Market. Masks and social distancing required.
■BarnArts Summer Youth Theater presents Shrek Jr. at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at Feast and Field, at 1544 Royalton Turnpike. Tickets are $8-$12 and can be purchased at barnarts.org.
■The Claremont Repertory Theater will perform Through the Eyes of Neverland during a socially distanced show at the Claremont Opera House at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5-$10 and can be purchased at the door. claremontoperahouse.org.
■Stream a production of N.I.G.G.A.: For Black Boys and the Black Folk Who’ve Loved Them, written by Dartmouth College student Armond Epps Dorsey at 8 p.m. followed by a performance of Little Circles, written by Dartmouth College student Savannah Miller. Dartmouth alum Niegel Smith directs both shows. Dorsey and Miller are both winners of the 2020 Eleanor Frost Playwriting Contest. Visit theater.dartmouth.edu for link.
■Celebrate public access to the Connecticut River during “Trails + Trucks at River Park” from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at 173 N. Main St., West Lebanon. Grab a bite to eat from a food truck before exploring the trails in the park. Masks required. friendsofriverpark.org/trailsandtrucks. Event will take place every Sunday in August.
■The Claremont Repertory Theater will perform Through the Eyes of Neverland during a socially distanced show at the Claremont Opera House at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5-$10 and can be purchased at the door. claremontoperahouse.org.
■BarnArts Summer Youth Theater presents Shrek Jr. at 2 p.m. at Feast and Field, at 1544 Royalton Turnpike. Tickets are $8-$12 and can be purchased at barnarts.org.
■Open Door Performance Project will present a dance performance, Shifting Terrain, at 4 and 6 p.m. at Lyman Point Park in White River Junction. Dancers, including Kelly, Brigid, and Molly Armbrust, Natalie Junio-Thompson, Nicole Conte Stevens, Hailey Swett, Bill Keegan, Carla Kimball, Li Shen, Donna Steinberg and Julie Frew will perform pieces inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic they choreographed along with Open Door founder Kate Gamble. Neva Cockrell and Raphael Sacks, co-directors and founders of Loom Ensemble, will also perform. Katya Müller will provide the music. $12, children under 5 free. Social distancing and masks required. Get tickets at opendoorworkshop.com/dance-performance.
Editor’s note: Submit Upper-Valley based events to the Valley Calendar at calendar.vnews.com.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
