Due to COVID-19, we had to slightly restructure our original program in order to present it virtually. In order to minimize exposure between the selected participants and the professional actors, instead of doing three separate monologues by the professional actors, we decided to do a masterclass with four professional actors where they interacted with the selected participants sharing some of their techniques, presenting a mini 8 minute monologue and then diving into a direct discussion with the participants where the young actors were able to ask each of the professional actors questions. This was filmed adhering to all the necessary health protocols and showcased as a live stream open to the public.
This first phase of ArtTalks and of the masterclass featured presentations by well-known Hispanic professional actors:
Jorge Hernández – fragment of the play “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller
Marilyn Romero – fragment of the play “Al pie del Támesis” by Mario Vargas Llosa
Arnaldo Pipke – fragment of the play “Príncipe azul” by Eugenio Griffero
Adriana Barraza – fragment of the play “Long’s Day Journey into the Night” by Eugene O’Neill
The second phase of ArtTalks Theatre Lab consisted on one-on-one coaching sessions between young actors and Conecta’s Artistic Director to develop each of their monologues.
Finally, the last and third phase of ArtTalks Theatre Lab culminated with a 2-day showcase that featured all of the 10 emerging actors presenting their final pieces. These showcases were also live-streamed and thus free and open to the public. Conecta made a concerted effort to invite local directors, promoters and producers to witness our young Hispanic actors. This final portion was absolutely essential to the young actors for they were able to test out their newly developed material and thus asses how their respective pieces were received by an audience, not to mention the great advantage of showcasing it to a group that included local producers and directors, and to have their work be seeing by a local, national and international audience.
September 12, 2020 – Masterclass – https://fb.watch/38wZeK4fJ7/
September 25, 2020 – Showcase I – https://fb.watch/38 https://fb.watch/38wZeK4fJ7/ wUVa2nUC/
September 26, 2020 – Showcase II – https://fb.watch/38wR4VVnF4/