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By Kay Tippett/ Community Columnist

After a long hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Chilton County High School Theatre Arts Guild is proud to present “Alice in Wonderland” (Prince Street Players version). After a year of being totally masked and staying 6 feet apart, these teen actors are finally able to grace the stage again. The actors will be masked, and the audience will be asked to wear masks and stay socially distanced. Many precautions have been taken to ensure the health and safety of all, and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform again.

The experience this year has been totally different. Auditions were held via Zoom, as were some practices. Everyone has learned a lot about using technology to overcome social distance.

“It has certainly presented challenges, although we have found new and interesting ways around it,” Alex Wright, CCHS Theatre Arts Guild President, said.

According to Lavender Morgan, the year has been “stressful, but having each other as a family has helped a lot.” Terryn Stankard says that the group is “friendly and welcoming, especially to someone who has just started at the school.” Emiley Holsomback said it best when she stated that “Theatre is like a home away from home. Every year gets better and better.”

To anyone who has ever been a part of a theater group, it will come as no surprise when I say that these students need the theater. Theater is a place where they feel safe, and they can explore their own talents and personalities. One afternoon at practice a young lady broke down in tears. Shocked for a moment, I (as the faculty sponsor) asked if she was okay, and she responded that she was simply happy because she had missed human interaction. In the midst of my relief, I totally understood her sentiment. Oh, how we have all missed human interaction!

Recently, three actors were quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19, so students have learned to cover the parts of others and adapt to unexpected situations. Mike Schiermann of the Central Alabama Performing Arts Guild has been Zooming in with students to assist with singing parts. Every day presents new challenges, but these students are not backing down. So far, quarantine is the only thing that has given them pause. Please consider supporting these students in this endeavor.

Because of crowd restrictions due to CDC regulations, the performances will be held at 6th Street Warehouse, 202 Sixth Street S in Clanton.

Four performances are scheduled, and tickets will be $7 each. Tickets will be available at the door, but crowd capacity is limited to 100 people per show, so don’t wait. Make plans now to attend. The performance will be filmed and made available for viewing at a later date. For updates, check Chilton County High School Theatre Arts Guild Facebook page and CCHS Theatre Arts Guild Instagram.

Show Dates and Times: 

Tickets are $7 each.

May 11 —  5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

May 13 —  5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.