She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

This was my first time directing, I was 12, and in the midst of a global pandemic. It was my second show at Levels and I had no idea what I was doing. Of course, no one else in the world was an expert at theater over zoom, so I had the freedom to follow my instincts.  

We created theater live and online. through rehearsals we got to talk to people consistently at a time when socializing was non-existent. The community we shared and the opportunity to create a live performance to share with friends and family within their homes was very meaningful. 

This show was also important to us as teenagers. From the first time I read it I saw myself in the struggles of a queer kid through the lens of a board game. It can be hard to face our problems and recreate them for an audience. This show used jokes and references to address issues, not unlike most teens.

I played with the order in which cameras were turned on to establish relationships not unlike blocking on a stage. We also used things like screen share to make zoom an advantage rather than an inconvenience.