Music and theatre administrators at OCU are expecting a fall semester decrease in COVID-19 regulation stringency.
Mark Parker, dean of the School of Theatre and Wanda L. Bass School of Music, said administration cannot give a definite timeframe for when current performance policies will be lifted until the time comes, but he is optimistic about the coming fall semester.
“We’re getting a pretty good indicator and feel that with the vaccine, we’re planning to have as close to what we would call a normal year as we had previously,” Parker said.
Parker said the administration is preparing for live audiences to return as early as the first show of the semester.
“We’re assuming there will be audiences from performance one,” Parker said. “Whether it be reduced in size or spaced out, we don’t know, but we’re thinking that by October, the month of the first performances, there basically won’t be restrictions.”
None of the productions from the School of Music or the School of Theatre had live audiences during the 2020 to 2021 school year. Parker said the goal for next fall will be to return audiences as quickly as possible while maintaining safety. He said the rate at which they return will depend on continuing updates in vaccine statistics and infection rates.
Parker said the future policy of masks on campus and on stage is the largest unknown at this point.
“That’s probably the biggest unknown in our discussions. We’re imagining that if a high vaccination rate happens, we probably won’t have to wear masks,” Parker said.
Parker said the programs are looking at recommending masks, regardless, in certain seasons to mitigate other seasonal illnesses.
“As an institution in regard to flu season, in regard to other things, we might keep people healthier now than we did before because of the things that we’ve learned,” Parker said.
Parker said in the past seasonal flu and strep throat have greatly affected companies of cast members. He said not a single case of flu or strep throat went viral this year in the performing arts programs, and he plans to recommend health and safety mitigation efforts in the future.
Parker said he is looking forward to stripping back on restrictions and returning the school to a sense of normalcy, but he is also proud of the level of excellence students and faculty have achieved this past year.
“I have been afraid to say how well we’re doing, but we’re close enough to the end that now I can say that I am so happy and relieved,” Parker said. “I have lots of pride in the ways students, faculty and staff have come together on this most important challenge. It never would have happened without everyone working together.”
Nasir Panjwani, music theater junior, said he was impressed by the commitment of the entire community to staying safe. None of the productions throughout the year were cancelled or postponed
due to the virus, and Panjwani said this was due to the community taking the precautions seriously and selflessly.
“I think that we did a really good job at maintaining safety protocols throughout the entire year, and we held that standard consistently throughout,” Panjwani said.
Hunter Semrau, music theater junior, said the COVID-19 safety protocols for performances, such as masked singing and distancing, proved to be a challenge, but he said he is thankful the university went ahead with those regulations.
“I’m really proud of the school. Everyone really stepped up. It can be difficult with the distancing and masks. I know that parts of Spring Awakening are challenging with the masks, but I think that it has made an interesting experience,” Semrau said. “It’s been a cool hurdle to jump over and has allowed us to think about our shows in interesting ways.”
Semrau said he is looking forward to a senior year without those protocols.
“I am so overjoyed that everybody is getting vaccinated, and next year we can go back to a sense of normalcy. It will be so cool to interact with other people on stage,” Semrau said.
Charlie Turner, musical theater junior, said going into the school year, he was concerned about safety and whether or not there would be a COVID-19 outbreak on campus.
“At the beginning of the year, I’m not going to lie, I was very worried that there would be major outbreaks,” Turner said.
Turner said with the vaccine numbers increasing, and the way the school approached the school year, he is relieved to return to normalcy and has faith in the school’s ability to take away restrictions safely and at the right time.
“I think the school has done a great job with making sure that everybody was safe for shows, and I’m excited to go back to the ways things were before,” Turner said. “If everything is safe and everybody is vaccinated, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t.”
The School of Music and School of Theatre will continue live performances in the fall of 2021. Specific procedures for the coming academic year are pending.
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