Solo Voices artists from L to R: Lydia R. Diamond, Kimberly Dixon-Mays, Kristin Idaszak, Aurora Real de Asua, Rashada Dawan, Brenna DiStasio, Tasia A. Jones, Kristen Osborn, Paul Michael Thomson, Amira Danan, Paula Ramirez, Shariba Rivers, Lisa Dillman, Gabrielle Randle, Sarah Slight, Jeffrey Levin, Sarah Ramos, Yu Shibagaki, Cat Wilson, Zoe Lesser
SOLO VOICES WORKSHOP:
Digital Pivot
Rivendell theatre ensemble
Director, Tidy by Kristin Idaszak
A note about the process:
The week that we were slated to begin rehearsals for Rivendell’s first Solo Voices Workshop, a festival of one woman shows written by Chicago playwrights, the shelter-in-place order was issued in Chicago in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In an emergency phone call with Rivendell Artistic Director Tara Mallen, (like so many other artists throughout the world,) we were forced to answer difficult questions about what would happen to the workshop. As we weighed our options we realized that, of all the projects to adapt to working in isolation, a one-person show could actually succeed in this digital format. And a new play development process, where the first priority is to address the playwright’s needs for moving the piece forward on the page, could also take place over Zoom. We decided to take the Solo Voices workshop online. In doing this, we quickly learned that the essential ingredient, without question, was the artistic teams’ collaborative spirit and willingness to dive into this unorthodox approach to a new work festival together.
The incredible artists who jumped into the “digital pivot” did not know what to expect. As producers, we were absolutely figuring it out as we go. But as we navigated the roller coaster of these challenging circumstances individually, working on these projects and having (digital)space and time for the playwrights to dig more deeply into their inspiring new plays, quickly became a bright spot of connection and creativity and hope.
Of course we encountered unforeseen challenges and uncertain moments, times in which Zoom exhaustion set in and our hearts and minds were full and fatigued, but we forged on, together. We shifted our focus from “product” to “process,” and allowed audience members viewing from home a special glimpse into the the artistic conversations that took place over the course of workshop in the form of digital content that ranged from dramaturgical video chats to scenic design galleries to sound musings. These creative conversations and imaginings extended the new play process beyond the page and into a conceptual exploration of what the shows could be someday when we could all gather safely in person once again.