By Leanne Vastbinder, Opinion and Online Editor
The music department’s fall jukebox musical is still happening, even after being postponed for the second time because of COVID-19.
The show, “Come Alive,” was originally scheduled to be performed last spring but was postponed after classes went online in March. It was rescheduled for October 22-24, then it was postponed again when several choir members tested positive for COVID-19.
The new dates for the show are Nov. 12-14.
Deanne Zogleman, director of the music department, said that the postponement was not totally surprising.
“Chorale comes from all different majors, so at any given time, someone can be quarantined or in isolation, and we have just Zoomed them into rehearsals in class. We had been lucky up to that point, but the week before tech week, by Friday evening, I had two science majors and one social work major that had tested positive and were in isolation as well as two other students being tested,” Zogleman said. “I decided that due to the number increasing that week, it would be smart to postpone the show, so that's what we have done.”
Postponing the show, Zogleman said, may end up being a blessing in disguise.
“This gives us extra time to polish songs and dances in class so rehearsals during tech week won't be so time consuming, and the crazy allergy season and temperature swings, which are not kind to voices, will have passed,” Zogleman said. “Fingers crossed, hopefully, we will have less people out quarantined or isolated.”
Dyana Baca, a recent graduate of Newman, is returning to perform in the show, which was originally scheduled for the end of her senior year last spring.
Baca said she was originally disappointed when she heard that the performance would be delayed so close to opening night.
“The day we were supposed to meet for our big rehearsal, we got a message saying that the show has been postponed due to a few COVID outbreaks within the choir and due to the amount of people that had to be quarantined throughout this,” Baca said. “I was really sad at first, but I knew it was for the best and for the safety of not only us but for the students, which should come first.”
Even with the delays, Baca said, she is looking forward to performing in her final show.
“I’m excited that all the hard work we’ve done through the semester is finally going to flourish
and everyone is going to see what we’ve been working on as a Chorale, as a family,” Baca said. “I'm finally going to get my senior show. Spent four years in the choir and I’ve done all the spring shows, and it’s going to feel great to have that last closing show, the closure of it all.”
The show will be in the Performance Hall in DeMattias. Due to COVID-19 guidelines and social distancing, “Come Alive” is offering limited reserved in-person seating and an online option, where the audience can tune in via livestream. Reservations will open Monday and can be made by emailing Deanne Zogleman at ZoglemanD@newmanu.edu or calling Zogleman at ext. 2196.
PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, unsplash.com
