Nothing Like a Halloween Virtual Teatro Session!

- worked on four different exercises

- had taken some time off due to my show rehearsals

- felt reinvigorated after working with everyone

- against all odds to complete the requirements of the exercises

- even had time to celebrate Cristian's cumples

Story Chain: Cristian and Olegario, as our actors

DTC and I met again for our first session in about three weeks. I had been cast in a virtual production with a new company out of Polk County that opened and closed this past weekend, so I was in rehearsal during that time.

I'll be honest; I was a little tired before our session began and not feeling very inspired. But once I saw everyone sign on right at the start of the hour and we began going through the games and exercises I had planned for the session, all of that went away!

It was great to see everyone and I as I was checking in to see how they were doing, it was brought to our attention that Cristian had recently celebrated a birthday. I asked if he wanted me to bust out the guitar and Jonathan, his brother, was definitely seconding the motion. So I played "Las Mañanitas," which

everyone recognized (Jonathan was even able to identify the song by name), even though it wasn't my rendition because I had a hurt finger.

I couldn't believe how quick the time went as we went through the exercises and games. I guess I did introduce four into the session.

I think everyone really got a kick out of the "Story Chain" exercise, where we split up into actors and story tellers, and gave an opportunity for both groups to improvise a story and act it out. Now that I think of it, I should have recorded the session so we could have watched it back. (That's definitely one of the advantages of working through Zoom. But something tells me I'll be bringing that game back for next session.)

Part of the reason I was so impressed is because the majority are utilizing their personal phones to sign on to our session. Poor Jonathan didn't have a way of holding his phone up and had to find a way to prop it up so he could participate in the exercises. But he didn't let it stop him, he found a way, and we were able to enjoy playing the games in spite of the limitations that were in front of us!

Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go back into the script we are hoping to present for the "Voices of Truth" Festival in March, but there is time and I felt it important for us to reconnect after having so much time away from one another.