SEARCY, Ark. – With the coronavirus (COVID-19) forcing theatres across the country to cancel shows, Searcy’s downtown playhouse is getting creative to keep their children’s theatre going. Center on the Square has announced that the latest KidStage session will be online.

The show — “10 Ways to Survive Life in a Quarantine” written by Don Zolidis — is a comedy comprised of short monologues on things like dog musicals, made-up sports announcing, and falling in love with an inanimate object.

“This was a completely new script written by Don Zolidis, who also wrote our last KidStage performance ‘Olympiaganza,’” said Rose Breckenridge, Center on the Square Executive Director. “He wrote this specifically for this kind of situation about different aspects of quarantine. The script is hilarious.”

With social distancing still the norm, the script offered Center on the Square the opportunity to still put on KidStage this summer, despite not being able to gather together inside the theater.

“It’s hard to social distance inside Center on the Square,” said Rose. “It’s not a big space, so this is the best way to keep things going.”

Instead of gathering at the theatre to rehearse and perform together, students will rehearse at home, twice a week for three weeks, in small groups via Google Meet. Students will collaborate on each other’s performances.

For the performance, the kids will record their monologues individually then send them in to be cut together. The final version will be broadcast digitally for all to see.

“If this takes off, then we will probably do another one,” said Rose.

Enrollment is open from Monday, May 11th at 8 am through Tuesday, May 12 at 5 pm, and is open to students grades 5 through 12. The enrollment fee is $35. There are only 22 spots available. If more than 22 kids sign-up for a role, auditions will be held.

To participate, kids will need the following; a device with a camera and microphone, Google Meet, internet access, and someone to help record the audition video and performance segment, for those not using a computer or tripod.

Classes begin on Friday, May 15th and run for three weeks. The final performance will be broadcast on Friday, June 12th, and Saturday, June 13th.

Those interested in signing up can visit centeronthesquare.org/KidStage or call Center on the Square at (501) 368-0111.