How to Stage a Virtual Play: a Guide for Acting Students

Considering doing an online performance, and wondering how to stage a virtual play? Of course, we’re all hoping to resume live performances as soon as possible, but it’s going to be a while before things open up completely. And while virtual theater isn’t the same as connecting with a live audience – but the good news is, there are some easy ways to make your performance as effective as possible!

There are two basic types of virtual performances – in real time (actors are performing at the same time over Zoom or other platforms), and recorded (actors are filmed separately, and the theater puts those clips together – viewed on-demand or with the audience all watching at the same time).   

It’s possible to combine the two in a hybrid – I just completed a readthrough of a musical I’m working on, where we had the actors do the dialogue in Zoom windows, in real time, but when we got to the musical numbers, we played pre-recorded videos, since it’s a brand-new piece and songs are harder to sight-read. 

You might also choose the hybrid option if you want to include performers who aren’t available at the time of the performance, or if your show requires some technical effects that aren’t possible over Zoom.  

How Does Virtual Theatre Work?

Virtual theatre has revolutionized the way we experience plays and musicals. By blending together modern technology and the classical art form, it is now possible to enjoy quality performances without ever leaving your home:

• It works by using streaming technology to broadcast a show live in high-definition video, allowing viewers to feel as if they are in the same room as actors while also controlling their own viewing experience. 
• The shows can be enjoyed either in real time or watched whenever is most convenient for them. Virtual theatre has opened up the world of performance to everyone, no matter their location or availability. 
• It’s a new era of entertainment, one that will continue to evolve with even more innovative offerings each season.

Want to learn more about how to stage a virtual play? We’ll give you all the tips you need in this post, but if you want to boost your skills as an actor or a director overall, you should consider signing up for lessons. Learn more about how and why you should do this by watching the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x1_Qw2smhM 

How to Do a Virtual Play

Looking for something fun and creative to do while stuck at home? Why not put on a virtual play! We’re talking full costumes, set designs, and all the drama that comes with shows. With a little planning and some help from your friends, you can create an unforgettable virtual play right in the comfort of your own home. 

Here’s how to get started. 

Step 1: Choose Your Show 

First things first—you need to pick the show! Will it be a classic like Hamlet or Macbeth? Or maybe you’d prefer something light-hearted like The Little Mermaid or Grease. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even write your own original play. Whatever you choose, make sure everyone involved is on board with the idea so that everyone is as excited as possible about getting started. 

Step 2: Get Ready for Rehearsal 

Once you have chosen your show, it’s time to start rehearsing! Make sure everyone has access to the script and any other materials they may need. Have each cast member record their lines separately so that there are no audio glitches when putting together the final product. 

To keep everyone engaged, consider hosting weekly Zoom rehearsals where cast members can run through their lines together or ask any questions they may have about their roles. 

Step 3: Build Your Set Design    

Now it’s time to get creative! Since this is a virtual play, you won’t be able to build an actual set out of wood and fabric (unless you want to). Instead, why not use items around the house like bookshelves, furniture, and pillows? You can also use green screens if available – just make sure to take advantage of lighting and angles for added effect. 

For props and costumes, ask your family or friends if they have anything lying around that might be useful – we guarantee there will be more than enough options available! Make sure everyone has access to these materials before the recording starts so that everything looks perfect when it comes time for filming. 

General Tips for Virtual Theater

Set Up

Unless you’re using a green screen and editing in some sort of set, each actor should film themselves in front of a neutral background, something simple and not too distracting. And in general, the most flattering camera angle is from just above the eyes (no one looks good filmed from under their nostrils).  Make sure your actors can minimize background noise, and give them clear direction over whether the orientation should be portrait (vertical, and how most phones film) or landscape (horizontal, or how most computers & video cameras film). 

There are advantages to each, depending on how you’re putting things together, but landscape works better for Zoom.

For Directors

Give your actors clear direction about how much of their bodies should be filmed, how loud they should be, and whether you want them looking at the camera. Ideally, the actors should film a rough draft for you to look at so you can give them feedback to make the final filming, or live zoom show, even more effective.

For Actors

Without the audience’s energy, and without your fellow actors next to you, it’s easy to feel like you’re just in another Zoom meeting. But acting technique can come in handy – if you’ve ever had to play a role completely unlike yourself, or do a love scene with someone you really didn’t like, you might have used ‘substitution’, imagining another scenario you can relate to, or pretending your scene partner was someone else. Likewise, you can pretend the camera is your fellow actor, or the audience, or whatever you need to be able to commit to the emotion of the scene.