Idaho State University School of Performing Arts to Present: “Ordinary Days” as a Virtual Experience

Idaho State University’s School of Performing Arts will present the virtual live-stream of  the musical “Ordinary Days” on Feb. 26, 27, and March 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m. live from the Black Box Theatre in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. 

“Ordinary Days” by American composer Adam Gwon, is a musical about four young New Yorkers and their unexpectedly intersecting lives. When Warren finds Deb’s notes for her grad thesis, it kickstarts a series of unexpected events that will change their lives, along with fellow New Yorkers Claire and Jason as they all search for happiness, fulfillment, love and cabs. This wonderful musical will feature two separate four person casts of talented ISU students, from freshmen to seniors. Both casts have been diligently working in rehearsals with Director Stefan Espinosa, as well as musical director, Geoffrey Friedley, to get the show performance ready. 

In the interest of creating art against all odds, the run of “Ordinary Days” will be completely virtual, presented as a livestream from the Performing Arts Center’s very own Black Box Theatre. The actors will perform inside of “pods” made from stage flats and plexiglass, with a projection screen behind them so they may safely sing without masks. The technical crew has gone above and beyond to ensure that the actors can be seen and heard just like a normal show, complete with live accompaniment. 

“‘Ordinary Days' is an intimate musical that explores and celebrates the thousands of ways our individual lives are connected in a bigger picture - even if most of the time we can't see it, says  Stefan Espinosa, director of “Ordinary Days” and ISU Theatre faculty member. “Each of the musical's four characters is struggling with loneliness and isolation, despite being surrounded by people in NYC - a theme I think we can all relate to after a year of pandemic…” Espinosa also speaks on producing a show in this challenging time: “Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say, and the process of producing a musical during the pandemic has led us to develop new ways of telling stories. We have been working hard to turn COVID restrictions into an opportunity to create the art we love in a new way - and I think it's going to be a really exciting and special production!"

The livestream performances are free of charge, however, patrons are encouraged to donate by visiting my.isu.edu/give/cal. More livestream information will be found on ISU Theatre’s website, www.isu.edu/theatre,  and social media accounts very soon.