The Clouds
By Aristophanes | Directed by Orlando Pabotoy
Adapted in collaboration with the ensemble from Peter Meineck’s translation
May 5–9, 2020 | Tisch Drama’s New Studio on Broadway Physical Acting Intensive Remote Laboratory Project
With the rise of the 2020 pandemic and corresponding New York City shutdown, the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama’s New Studio on Broadway had to adapt its live theatre production of Aristophanes’ The Clouds for the digital space. Originally set to have six performances from May 5–9, the company, as directed by Pabotoy, had to pivot into a fully remote, virtual production process.
The project was a success, garnering praise, a talkback event on May 8, and additional calls for insight from the theatre community at large.
In response, on July 6 and 8, the department hosted a virtual learning event to provide an in-depth look at the making of The Clouds, as featured on New York 1 and Playbill. The free two-day workshop was broken down into a series of sessions that explored the creative and technical aspects of producing a fully remote production, from rehearsing to choreography, stage management, production management, design, music composition and creation, virtual backgrounds, video editing, IT support, and more.
Watch the digital production workshop.
Original artwork by Marieke Bauer
A special pre-show Salutation for The Clouds
Original music by Tuânminh Albert Ðỗ
Performed by Tuânminh Albert Ðỗ and Marieke Bauer
Directed and edited by Orlando Pabotoy
The Clouds
(May 9, 2020 performance)
Advisory: This production contains sexually explicit content and offensive language.