Phillips County Players set the stage for 2021

While the pandemic put most of 2020’s plans on hold, the Phillips County Players are hopeful for the things to come in 2021. Fourteen people met at the Peerless Center on Sunday, Jan. 31, for the group’s annual meeting.

Before the pandemic hit in the spring last year, the Phillips County Players performed a murder mystery in January, followed by a Dr. Seuss-themed skit at Holyoke Elementary School. The group made attempts to put a show together later in the year, but COVID-19 restrictions and concerns put it on hold.

On Sunday, the meeting included a brainstorming session for ways to get back on the stage this year.

One idea brought to the top of the list was a play in the format of a radio show, which is something the Players have done in the past. It will allow for the actors to be spread out on stage as the audience watches individuals read/sing/etc. at the microphone while others are doing sound effects and more in the background of an old-fashioned radio studio. The Players also thought about taking it a step further and actually broadcasting the show on the radio or streaming it online.

The Players discussed finding a play or writing their own that would be a spoof of the pandemic itself, making face masks and social distancing all a part of the script. Additionally, a melodrama hasn’t been ruled out as an option for the Players in 2021.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.