The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 1 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on September 18, 2020.
By: Adam Hartzer ’23
Managing Editor | Layout Editor
Like many other campus clubs, activities, and events, the Lake Forest College Theater Department has adapted to the far-from-normal fall semester. This fall, the Theater Department is excited to continue offering entertainment for students and the Lake Forest community in a new way.
“In addition to moving our classes to remote learning, we needed to figure out a way to offer performances without having anybody on campus. This semester, we are presenting Forester Fridays Live! a weekly online program created by and for the Lake Forest College community,” Technical Director of Theater David Knoell shared.
Every Friday night at 8 p.m. CST, the department will host an hour-long live performance, Forester Fridays Live!, consisting of original plays, improv comedy, and a variety show starring students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Forester Fridays Live! will run weekly through November 20, according to a Facebook post authored by Department of Theater Chair Richard Pettengill.
With new performance offerings such as Forester Fridays Live!, there was also the initial challenge of adapting performance for a virtual setting.
“There has been a lot of new technology to learn and adapt to as we move to performing online. I thought being remote would mean there would be less work, but it seems like there is so much more! I enjoy the challenge because it pushes me to learn new things; I like the way my brain works when I’m out of my comfort zone,” Knoell explains.
In addition to the technical aspect of creating a new performance platform, some students created entirely new content. Over the past summer, seven Lake Forest College students wrote original plays with the help of artists Nambi E. Kelley and Vic Wynter via online workshops. These original plays will be performed through the fall season, according to the Facebook post.
“The result is a truly remarkable array of various dramatic styles, topics, and concerns. We are deeply moved by the powerful display of creativity in these works and are eager to share them with our larger community,” Pettengill said in the post.
The schedule for these original performances is:
- Friday, Sept. 25th, 8 p.m.
- “Mercutio” by Lionel Whitehead ’23
- “Deucalion” by Zak Khan ’22
- Friday, Oct. 16th, 8 p.m.
- “Worthy” by Elizabeth Ossmann ’21
- “Where Seeds Bloom in Darkness!” by Ajit Sharma ’23
- Friday, Nov. 6th, 8 p.m.
- “Amber” by Andromeda Molzahn ’22
- “Black Magic!” by Tarik Hall ’22 and Esther Kim ’22
- “Enough is Never Enough” by Cam Penn ’24
Along with Forester Fridays Live! and the original plays, the Theater Department also announced The Talent Pool, a weekly online open mic variety show for any member of the LFC community to participate in. They welcome all types of performances and accept either live or pre-recorded submissions. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, contact David Knoell, Technical Director, at knoell@mx.lakeforest.edu. The variety shows are scheduled for October 2 and 23, and November 13.
With these new performances, Knoell is most excited about exploring how to create new experiences in a virtual space.
“We are boldly exploring new territory, with the use of new technologies, to advance our abilities. Many of our successes will be built upon the lessons we learn from our failures,” he said.
For updates and further programming information, be sure to check the Theater Department’s social media platforms and website at theater.lakeforest.edu.
