McGriff wrote the play in March, just before his campus closed because of the pandemic. He held auditions online in early April. Because he wanted theater to be a fun and healing experience for all students who auditioned, he ended up casting everyone—three different sets of actors, for a total of 30 students. All rehearsals were held on Zoom, and each cast rehearsed separately for two hours, three times a week. Costumes and props were minimal, and students had to use what they could find at home.
In May, Jury Trial was performed in front of a live audience of students, faculty and staff, and parents on Zoom, where their cameras and mics were turned off to replicate a viewing experience. Cast members turned their cameras on during their parts in the script. This allowed for close-ups, reaction shots, and the view of just two actors at a time. A student stage manager played prerecorded segments of narration with edited video footage that set the scene.
Each cast performed twice for a total of six performances over one weekend. More than 3,000 people watched the play. At the end of each performance, comments were turned on, and the audience was able to leave feedback and congratulations for the cast. Many noted how impressed they were with the students’ commitment to their characters and how the play felt like watching a television show.
A recording of the play is available on the school’s YouTube channel.
What’s happening at your school? Share your story with us at [email protected].