LSMSA's Fall Theatre Ensemble debuts virtual performance 'Everything Seems Like Maybe'

The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts’ Fall Theatre Ensemble is going virtual this semester with the debut performance of its first online play. 
Set for Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 pm “Everything Seems Like Maybe” will be live streamed online at livestream.com/lsmsa/eslm but it will only be available to watch once at the specified time, so don’t miss out. 
 
Theatre Repertory is a half-credit course at LSMSA where students work on and perform Fall and Spring productions. Normally, auditions are held the semester before but, given the unusual nature of quarantine, that didn't happen. 
 
“Traditionally we pick from a few shows for each semester's auditions depending on the amount of students that show up,” said Scott Theriot, LSMSA Theatre Director and Instructor. “Once we knew we would be online this semester, I set out to find shows that we would be able to produce online. Obviously, Zoom performance of theatre is still a new realm for everyone, but we're adapting.” 
 
The voices of teenagers take the spotlight in this series of timely monologues about the experience of sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the written work of real high school students “Everything Seems Like Maybe” is written especially for performance on video-conference platforms. It celebrates and validates the thoughts of young people during a surreal and unprecedented time; whether they're missing a crush, critiquing the society in which they live, or trying to imagine what could be next. 
 
“I felt it would be ideal to divide up rehearsals in a way that would allow for any lag time issues with multiple cameras and give actors the chance to isolate meaningful material and make it important to them,” said Theriot. “It was also on my radar to find something that was rather timely and would allow students a little catharsis and a means to express maybe some of the fears and isolation they may have felt or are feeling during this time.”
 
Students met every Monday and Wednesday to rehearse via Zoom. According to Karn Richoux, Instructor of Technical Theatre at LSMSA, technicians focused on camera issues, lighting, costuming, and virtual backgrounds, all of which is completely different from the normal mode of production. Richoux feels this experience will lend itself to their second show, Help Desk, coming in November.
 
“I feel like we all can relate to the ‘Everything Seems Like Maybe’ monologues,” said Theriot. “Having this shared experience of quarantine and isolation for such an extended period has allowed the actors and crew to sink their teeth into this new playspace. I'm very excited for others to see their work.”
 
 
“Everything Seems Like Maybe”
Monologues inspired by the writings of American Teenagers in April 2020
Curated, Adapted, and Edited by Sandy Rustin
performed by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
 
Director: Scott Theriot
Technical Director: Karn Richoux
Stage Manager: Mary Hutson, Pineville
Cast:
Noah Murray, Pineville; Madi Kavanaugh, Bossier City; Julia Johnson, Hammond; Annemarie Campbell, Patterson; Livy Zachary, Youngsville; Lily St. Amant, Ruston; Reagan Brown, Industry, TX; and Maddie Core, Paulina.
Technicians:
Ryan Guidry, Rayne; Jacob Knapp, Vidalia; and Sarah Johnson, Fairfield Bay, AR
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