Stage It and Stream It: Plays for Virtual Theater

Playwright Steven Dietz once said playwrights have “the adaptability of cockroaches”—that they’re able to nimbly adjust to new circumstances and mediums. This was never in greater evidence than during the coronavirus pandemic, when—with theaters shuttered and stages darkened—writers and performers across the world scrambled to master the art of theater via remote video. Even as life haltingly returns to normal, it is clear that the experiences of 2020-21 have dramatically altered the landscape of theatermaking, as artists continue to refine and deploy the lessons learned during a period of seat-of-the-pants experimentation. This groundbreaking anthology brings together new works from both emerging and established playwrights to explore the rich opportunities afforded by streaming theater. They reveal a range of styles and approaches to storytelling: encompassing both traditional and experimental plays, from solo pieces to large-cast dramas, and taking place within single settings, multiple settings, or even in a utopian “nowhere.” Throughout, these selections all help to bring playwrighting fully into our new era, embodying the sense of magic that comes from simple moments of human connection, even when we cannot be together.