Creative Outlets and Resources During COVID-19

The Department of Theatre Arts & Dance acknowledges that the necessary safety precautions related to COVID-19 has presented unique challenges for artists and the creative sector. It is our priority to continue to assist and inspire students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members by providing both opportunities to access/engage with the arts, and by providing resources that are unique to artists, or those in the creative sector. 

Creative Outlets

Watch

Virtual performances, digital archives, and fun moments with artists. 

• Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive - "An ever-growing collection of dance videos filmed at Jacob's Pillow from the 1930s to today, plus new illustrated essays."
• Quarantine Playwriting Bake Off, featuring University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Acting undergraduate students. Live readings took place 3/25/20.
• Playbill is bridging the gap for many theaters that are hosting video auditions this spring and/or are continuing to cast and staff for future productions.
• The Playwrights' Center is taking action to connect people with their communities and create income streams for theater artists who are out of work by presenting an entirely new, online Spring 2020 Season.
• National Theatre is launching "National Theatre at Home" starting April 2nd to give audiences access to content online. A selection of much-loved National Theatre Live shows will be streamed on YouTube every week, for free.
• Playbill is sharing up-to-date information about ditigally-streaming plays and performances at regional theaters. 
• Walking Shadow Theatre Company has leapt into action as a local, Twin Cities cultural leader in virtual performance with their current run of Charlie Bethel's Beowulf (Live and Virtual).
• HowlRound Theatre Commons and the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center are now presenting "SEGAL TALKS," daily, live online conversations with US and global theatre artists.
• Patrick Stewart started reading #ASonnetADay live on Facebook.
• Netflix is a Joke now invites you to their virtual table reads via YouTube including a new epsiode of Grace and Frankie. 
• Good Morning America featured Disney broadway performers in a virtual performance of "Go The Distance." 
• Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS wil livestream the November '19 "Celebrating 235 Maigcal Years of Disney on Broadway" concert to raise money for the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund.
• The Guthrie Theater goes behind the scenes to discuss the intricacies, challenges, and opportunities in each of the many roles in theatre from playwriting to prosthetics.
• Ananya Dance Theatre has digitally shared their production of "Duurbaar: Journeys Into Horizon" from 2006. The full-length production is available through April 17, 2020.
• Playwrights Horizons launched a new audio play program, "Soundstage."
• Mixed Blood Theatre commissioned local artists to build an artist-driven response to the Murder of George Floyd. 
• Minnesota Fringe is streaming the first ever Minnesota Virtual Fringe Festival, July 30-August 9. They are presenting live and recorded events from a miriad of Twin Cities local artists.
• Tiny Plays From Quarantine, by Little Red Theatre Company, an UMTAD student-led company, is streaming readings of the 25 "tiny" plays they received from playwrights during COVID-19.  
• Disney+ is streaming "Hamilton," along with interview talk-backs, "The Undefeated Presents: Hamilton In-Depth" and "Hamilton: History Has Its Eyes on You." No free trial available, but that $6.99/month is the cheapest Hamilton ticket we've ever seen... 
• Marquee TV is featuring acclaimed ballet, opera, contemporary dance, and theatrical productions. Try it out with their available 14 day free trial. 

Engage

At-home projects, inspirations for movement, try-this-at-home moments of creativity.

• Stages Theatre Company has launched a new program "Stages Beyond the Stage" - Free, virtual theatre activities designed for ages 18 months to 18 years to get bodies, voices and imaginations moving and creating.
• Syracuse Stage shared a project about making set designs from home using legos and found objects. 
• Company 605 and filmmaker Brian Johnson have an online dance composition to help inspire your movement.
• Get in Shape Grrl (Broadway COVID Series) is a Facebook excercise Group led by some of Broadway's top dancers, insprired by their shows. 
• Minnesota Public Radio encouraged Minnesotans everywhere to participate in "Bring the Sing Home" on April 17th with 'You've Got a Friend'.
• The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts is hosting Cowles Classrooms on YouTube and masterclasses on Instagram @thecowlescenter. 
• QuaranStream Theatre Festival provides opportunities for performers, directors, writers, and other artists put out of work by the COVID-19 crisis
• The Kilroys created "The List," a living compilation of new plays by women, trans, and non-binary playwrights. It is a tool for producers committed to ending the systemic underrepresentation of women, trans, and non-binary playwrights in the American theater.
• Radio-K's Real College Podcast episodes are available online and on all streaming platforms. If you are interested in getting involved with Radio-K's Real College Podcast please email realcollegepodcast770@gmail.com and put "new volunteer" in the subject line.

Creative Resources

Funding & Professional Resources

Artist-specific resources and outlets for funding, lawyers, crisis-management, and global perspectives.

• Springboard for the Arts is professionally equipped to help with your individual artist needs during this time (MN-based).
• COVID-10 Freelance Artist Resource is an independently created website that provides resources for US and international artists on everything from legal to live streaming. Created by artists for artists.
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits resources include a free webinar specifically about "Grantmaking in Response to Coronavirus", guidance on unemployment and public policy, and fundraising tips.
• Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts provides educational resources and connects artists with attorneys who specialize in arts and entertainment law. They've added a new section to address your COVID-19 questions.
• HowlRound Theatre Commons presented an online workshop with Creative Capital to help artists better understand how to livestream their work to virtual audiences.
• Capacity Interactive is presenting a virtual Crisis Boot Camp on April 23rd for arts organizations and leaders.
• Dramatists Guild Foundation is providing emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists.
• JCA Arts Marketing is (re)launching their Ask Me Anything series about organizational leadership and marketing.
• Billboard has compiled a list of resources at both the national and state levels to help musical professionals.
• The Actors Fund is providing virtual workshops for artists and grant/financial support. 

Self Care

Resources specific to caring for your body and mind.

• The New York Times shared an insightful piece about how our bodies navigate a pandemic using choreography.
• UMN Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing is hosting a weekly, informal hour of meditation and light movement.
• The Lost Works Project is an in memoriam to all the projects that will no longer come to fruition, an archive and beacon of hope. 
• SKY Campus Happiness Club at UMN is organizing an online breating and yoga retreat April 13 - 15.
• Chris Appleton, celebrity hair stylist, gives a tutorial for trimming short hair at home.

Readiness

Professional development opportunities, and shifting platforms.

• Backstage has just launched The Slate, an "all-new digital and on-camera series featuring insights and direct feedback from casting directors, acting coaches, personal trainers, agents, actors, and creators."
• Minnesota Playlist can keep you up to date on local auditions, virtual auditions, and postponements via their "Classifieds" board.
• DDO Artists Agency is holding a virtual open call for their NY, LA, and Chicago offices.

Originally Posted: 3/27/20

Last Updated: 7/23/20

If you'd like to submit an idea for either of these lists, please email theatre@umn.edu.