While it may not be the traditional time of year, the co-directors of StudioBE’s The Nutcracker on the Green have embraced the theater saying that “the show must go on.” After facing many setbacks and challenges, co-directors Shannon Cushing and Tyler DuBoys are preparing to showcase the cast’s hard work and dedication through a virtual presentation of the show on Saturday, March 20.

“This has been our focus as artists—it’s an outlet, it’s something they’ve looked forward to for a long time, and it’s something they’ve put their all into,” said Cushing. “We have tried to find ways to host the production live outdoors, but after speaking with town officials and following guidelines, a virtual performance is the safest option for our cast and the audience.”

The production has been in the works for more than a year. After the success of the inaugural production in the 2019-’20 season, Cushing and DuBoys knew they wanted a repeat performance.

The pair began to prepare to host the show again, but early on in the process, COVID-19 put a damper on those plans. The directorial team decided to face the challenges head on, delaying the beginning of rehearsals and then adjusting them to fit the safety requirements mandated for COVID.

Every lead role was cast with an understudy in the event someone was unable to perform and decreased capacity limits meant there could only be 12 dancers in the room at a time. DuBoys explained the flexibility required to meet the COVID safety protocols. He noted that there were times that rehearsals had to be modified due to dancers having to quarantine.

“We would rather be proactive than reactive when it comes to battling the pandemic as a community,” said DuBoys. “We even have had to hold virtual rehearsals over Zoom. Teaching classes virtually are one thing, but when you are trying to put on a show that has intricate musical cues, timing, and blocking, trying to do it virtually adds a whole new level of complexity.”

Cushing, who also works for Shore Publishing in marketing, and DuBoys have also found a new level of complexity in putting on a production during COVID. They spent months trying to explore the logistics of hosting a live show. They first aimed for a live outdoor show in December, but in the weeks leading up to the performance, there was a spike in COVID numbers and the cast was affected, as well.

“We had to work through the challenges of performing outside and how to deal with the weather, as well as how to create a stage, rent equipment, what the backstage area would look like,” said Cushing. “COVID affected us very personally as a cast. The health and safety of our dancers and audience is always at the top of our minds and we were more determined than ever to make the show happen safely.”

With the December performance canceled, the artistic directors again worked to create a new plan. They set a goal of performing the show live in March in an outdoor setting. After two possible venues fell through and discussions with each other, the families involved, and town officials, Cushing and DuBoys decided that it would have to be a virtual performance.

“Our dancers have rehearsed on the green in the cold, over Zoom, in quarantine, in the studio, with each other, without each other—I don’t think we have ever been fully together as a cast, and yet we are figuring it out,” said Cushing. “We hope our dancers take away the lessons from 2020 and apply it to their lives, and we hope you come and see this beautiful ballet and support the next generation of artists. We can still gift the audience with a beautiful ballet and we can do it in a way that is safe.”

Cushing is grateful for the hard work and dedication of the dancers, her partnership with DuBoys, and the support of Michelle Bonavena, owner of Studio BE. She credits the group with making the production possible. She is also thankful that she was able to continue to keep the arts in her life through the pandemic.

Seeing the perseverance of those involved has also been one of the biggest rewards for DuBoys. He is excited to be able to share the show with the community.

“Even during a global pandemic, this experience is giving everyone involved a much needed artistic outlet,” said DuBoys. “Dancing and live theater are definitely not the easiest art forms to work on when considering social distancing and the pandemic, but we, as artists, will always find creative solutions to new and unique problems. The joy that a show like this brings, to both the dancers and the audience alike, is unmatched. In times like this, this kind of joy is needed now more than ever.”

Email nutcrackerstudiobe@gmail.com to receive the invitation to the March 20 virtual production.