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Theater/Dance

Don't lose to Corona! “Bite Show -Final-” took on the challenge of taking thorough infection prevention measures

コロナに負けるな!万全の感染予防対策で挑んだ「バイトショウ -ファイナル-」

Go, see and feel the world of art
File.31 Magcal Performing Arts Academy “Bite Show -Final-”
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

Magcal Performing Arts Academy was opened in 2014 with the aim of nurturing performing arts professionals. This performance, which is held every summer, begins with the 2016 "Bite Show YOKOHAMA -Seishun Hen-" and is now an international version! , BEST edition, and Platinum edition, the level has been improved with each revision.

However, with the current coronavirus pandemic.
What will happen this year?

``Bite Show -Final-'' was performed after overcoming such concerns and taking all possible infection control measures.

The day before the opening day, December 19th (Saturday), we spoke to Kensuke Yokouchi, the general manager. I will introduce it together with the scenery of the general production held after that.

This year it has stopped since the start of spring.

In the past, we have welcomed newcomers in April and held the main performance in August, but this year we were unable to hold spring auditions. Anyway, after gathering information and taking measures to prevent the spread of infection, we managed to hold auditions in September, and the number of applications exceeded our expectations. It was proof that the Academy's activities were becoming more widespread, so I was really happy. Assuming that the main performance would be held in December, we thought that ``amateurs would be no problem,'' but we hired about 18 people this year, as there were some who had the ability to be immediately effective.
Actually, I thought about quitting for now. However, I once again realized that for these young people, it would be impossible for them to stop working for half a year.

When will academy lessons resume?

We didn't have real lessons until August, but we held remote classes in May when going out was restricted. We distributed a 10-part ``theatre course'' that included topics such as Stanislavski's theory of theater, Nakamura Nakazo, who is said to be the god of theater, and Shakespeare's plays.

For example, what is "real" in theater? Although I had only intended to share the information from time to time, I think it was a good opportunity to learn theoretically. This was a challenge for us as well. I was worried about how much I would be able to do in remote classes, but I think I was able to talk about difficult things without holding back.
I think it was a powerful lesson because it also sent the message, ``Don't stagnate!'' at a time when the future was uncertain and everyone was feeling anxious.

I heard that everyone was wearing masks during rehearsals for this performance.

that's right. Today (the day of the general event) is the first time the members have taken off their masks. Singing and dancing while wearing a mask is difficult, but facial expressions are important in a play, so it's a situation that wouldn't normally exist. I think some of the members were surprised, saying, ``He was acting with such an expression on his face.'' It is truly a challenge and a grand experiment.
We were also careful to ensure that the stage did not become crowded. The running time is 1 hour and 45 minutes, which is shorter than before. The members were divided into two teams, A team and B team, and the number of dance numbers, which used to be shown through the power of numbers, was reduced, so deception was no longer effective. No one knows the correct answer to what "doing as much as possible" means. Still, I pursued the meaning of ``do'' at this time.

"Bite Show" is in its fifth year, and it's finally the "final".

Magcal Performing Arts Academy was established with the aim of creating an environment where people can learn theater in Kanagawa Prefecture. Considering that a ``Performing Arts Department'' will be newly established at Kanagawa Prefectural High School in 2021, I think this is a turning point.
When we started in 2014, we were all amateurs and I thought, ``This won't be possible'' (lol). That has continued until now. Nowadays, there are some who have graduated from music colleges and who are now performing on stage as professionals, so we called this year's "Final" to represent the culmination of all that has happened.

``Bite Show'' has taken the form of a ``theater in a theater,'' where seats are placed on the stage, and the performance has been held with a limited number of audience members. If there is a next step, I would like to perform a new work using Momijizaka Hall in its normal state. Momijizaka Hall is a magnificent theater with a seating capacity of over 800 people, so it will be difficult to fill the seats. However, this is our ``fervent wish'', and we would like to see what they learned and passed on after doing it.

It's really unfortunate that I lost time due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, because we are in an unprecedented situation, we may have been able to find something different. I hope that when you look back, you'll think, ``2020 wasn't a waste of time either.''

Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Kanagawa Prefecture and everyone involved for their support, including the message that they would like us to take appropriate precautions and carry out this performance as much as possible. I'm really thankful to you.

《Click here for past ``Bite Show'' reports! 》
2016 “Bite Show YOKOHAMA-Seishun-hen-”
●2018 "Bite Show -BEST Edition-"
●2019 “Byte Show -Platinum Edition-”

 
 

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