In my book, Play Readings: A Complete Guide for Theatre Practitioners, I examined the role public Play Readings serve in New Play Development, and offered a model for In-person Play Readings. Acknowledging that there is no “right way,” I interviewed many theatre professionals whose opinions contradicted mine. The main concepts covered in this book still apply to Virtual Play Readings - submission policies, Playwright discussions with Producers and Directors, casting, editing stage directions, talkbacks and more.
There are however certain challenges that apply to Virtual Readings which are distinct from In-person Readings, mostly involving technical issues such as:
Current platforms are primitive and were not created for Online Readings. Addressing and overcoming these challenges is the responsibility of the Artists who work on them.
Platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google, Wirecast, vMix and Streamyard, as well as different types of “gatherings” within those platforms have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Various methods of displaying and recording participants should be examined, and Theatre Artists are advised to explore all available options.
The technologies and their applications are rapidly evolving, and some of what is advanced in this guide will change or become obsolete in the coming months. Also, in flux are the policies of Actors Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, The Dramatists Guild of America and Theatre Musicians Association on the participation of their members in any online entertainments.
While this guide proposes specific practices for Virtual Play Readings in the service of New Play Development, very little attempt has been made to describe how any of the technical suggestions can be achieved. The proposed model and the enhancements require research and practice on the part of Theatre Artists.
Virtual Play Readings can be live-streamed, where the audience is watching in real-time. Alternatively, it can be recorded while it is being live-streamed, then edited and archived to extend opportunities for viewing.
While Virtual Play Readings can capture the essence of a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience for audiences, including mistakes and all, they are fraught with challenges. Any technical glitches resulting from unstable internet connections, problems with sound and lights, as well misread lines and long pauses can adversely impact the experience for audiences. With Recorded Readings, some of these errors can be addressed during the recording or fixed by the Video Editor in post-production. As they are less of a gamble and more widely preferred, Recorded Play Readings are the focus of this guide.
Theatres or Producing Organizations may task someone on staff with the post-production work or secure the services of a Video Editor. A variety of editing software programs are available, from simple and inexpensive to sophisticated and costly. Given the very likely circumstance that Virtual Play Readings will be with us for a while, it is recommended that Theatres and Producers consider purchasing software for the staff, and/or secure the services of an experienced Video Editor.