Two New York theatre companies have announced live outdoor performances to go up next weekend in Bushwick, American Theatre reports.
Following news of socially distanced live performances around the nation, the production of Beast Visit will welcome small audiences for "a sunset encounter with a group of lonesome creatures currently living in a mysterious sculpture garden."
Created by resident artist Normandy Sherwood for the Drunkard's Wife's #StillHERE: In Real Life series, the production runs from August 20-22 and 25-27 at Rubulad.
"At this moment, I think a physical experience of wonder is necessary," Sherwood said. "With Beast Visit, I wanted to pair my lifelong love of mythical and monstrous beasts with the loneliness so many of us have witnessed. Setting that experience inside Rubulad's mysterious sculpture garden felt like the perfect and safe way to explore all of that right now."
Brooklyn theatre ensemble, The TEAM is also co-producing Quince, an immersive take on the quinceañera. Created by Ellpetha Tsivicos and Camilo Quiroz-Vazquez, the show will go on from August 21-22 at the People's Garden.
The creators plan to integrate precautions against COVID-19 into the show, including providing the audience with custom face masks designed by Scarlet Moreno and limiting audience numbers.
"As the children of immigrants, we have always existed in a world where taking extra steps is required," Director Ellpetha Tsivicos said in a statement. "As conscious members of many communities, we know that, whether we're dealing with a global pandemic or racial, gender, or economic equity, we start with an awareness of our neighbors' needs first and work outward from there."
Added writer Camilo Quiroz-Vazquez in a statement: "We believe the need for art is dire during COVID-19, and the absence of it has taken a toll on many. We feel so lucky and privileged to be able to showcase a queer, Latinx story involving questions of life, death, and identity at this challenging moment in time, and we hope the play can serve as a cathartic release to help us work through our collective trauma together."
