Here are six theater pieces that, if performed on stage before the pandemic, could very well have been called "performance art". But when the pandemic came along, theaters, like everyone else, had to adjust. And a couple of the things some theaters did was to start streaming some of their productions, as well as moving some of the performances themselves off stage to rl settings. And it wasn't long before some theaters added digital enhancements to the streaming productions. And, as we're coming out of lockdowns, some of the new streaming productions seem to have retained those changes as a matter of course.
Such seems to be the case with Wilma Theater's current streaming productions, "Hothouse Shorts", which is a collection of six engaging but unrelated pieces. Some of the digital enhancements include rapid changes of scenes as well as one of the shorts going way off into its own territory and bcoming an interactive experience with the viewer. Fun clicking all the icons! The theater's website describes them as: These shorts are as varied in style as they are in content, reflecting both the diversity of passions and variety of talents of local Philadelphia artists..
Should works like this be encompassed in the larger generic category "videos", or, since they're being created and performed by a theater company, still be called "theater pieces"? Or do they deserve a new name entirely? Technological advances are bringing a blurring of the lines. (or creating new ones?)
"Hothouse Shorts" is playing through this Friday, December 31. The event is free although a donation is requested (Make a donation!), and registration is required. You register only once for all six pieces. And you can even view them a second time if you like. I liked these stories; they make an interesting event as we wrap up the year. Here is the click to Wilma Theater's "Hothouse Shorts" ::: Hothouse Shorts (CLICK HERE).
All pics on this page were "screenshots" I took as I streamed the productions on my device.
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