Coe shared the spirit of Halloween in Theatre Cedar Rapids’ play fest
Kohawks played a major role with Theatre Cedar Rapids’ first virtual “Halloween Horror Night!” Flash Play Fest. Coe students and alumni wrote two of the 12 short plays showcased on October 30 before a panel of judges and over 100 attendees. In addition, a few Kohawks took center stage acting or directing various plays.
As the first theater festival to go completely virtual, it’s creating new opportunities for thespians and audiences alike. Chelsea White ’12 has volunteered with Theatre Cedar Rapids since 2018. Her co-coordinating duties required swift action to get plays selected, cast and rehearsed in just 12 days.
“We had plays that could be considered everything from mini-horror films to musical comedies, and each one was exceptionally well done. It is exciting to see how our directors and casts have expanded upon the ways you can use Zoom to deliver theater. I think our audiences see Zoom theater is still theater in a more traditional sense than they were expecting,” Chelsea said.
Kenzie Macon ’23 saw Chelsea’s Facebook post seeking director applications. The theatre arts and film studies major has been directing shows since she was a junior in high school. It was a match made in Kohawk nation for Macon to be partnered with writer and actress Zhen E. Rammelsberg ’14 on her play “ASMR.”
“I realized when we were all just hanging out afterward on Zoom how much I really miss the social aspect of theater and going to events. The play turned out even better than I had dreamed it could,” Zhen said.
Students also were encouraged by faculty to step outside of their comfort zones as part of the play fest. “The Creative Writing Department certainly has [provided me with resources to further my work]. I can definitely say my playwriting professor, Kate Aspengren, is more than willing to talk at any moment about anything related to writing. She told me the festival was looking for submissions,” writer and director of “New Department” Nick Sohm ’20 said.
“I’ve learned quite a lot from my peers. The only reason I started auditioning for community theater in Cedar Rapids was because a classmate of mine told me about auditions. The faculty have been really helpful with professional acting resources,” Carmen Chavez ’21 said.
Writers, directors and actors alike all were grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the theater community during the pandemic.
“It’s still a great way to work on new scripts, and I think what a better time to be writing new scripts than when we’re all stuck inside and bored,” said Carmen.
At the end of a spooky night, two Kohawk plays received a distinction. Nick’s play was first runner-up for Best Production and “ASMR” by Zhen won Best Sound Effects.