COVID-19

Here, you’ll find content that directly engages with the COVID-19 pandemic. From work created digitally in response to the shutdown, like La Mama’s series Downtown Variety, to advice on digital gathering, teaching theatre, and making work, this is the space for conversation about this global crisis and how to move forward.

The Latest

We Can’t Build an Equitable Theatre While Ignoring COVID

Essay

We Can’t Build an Equitable Theatre While Ignoring COVID

by Taylor Leigh Lamb

21 March 2024

Affinity Spaces for MENA/SWANA and LGBTQIA+ Artists

Podcast

Affinity Spaces for MENA/SWANA and LGBTQIA+ Artists

by Marina Johnson, Nabra Nelson, Evren Odcikin, Andrea Assaf, Sara Razavi, Feras Hilal

13 December 2023

Fourth Annual Convening of the Middle Eastern North African Theater Makers Alliance (MENATMA)

Video

Fourth Annual Convening of the Middle Eastern North African Theater Makers Alliance (MENATMA)

Conversations About the Present and Future of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Theatre

Saturday 28 October and Sunday 29 October 2023

San Francisco, CA

Theatre for a Climate Crisis in a Globalized World

Thomas

Peterson

Essay

Theatre for a Climate Crisis in a Globalized World

A Model for Local Action

27 April 2020

Thomas Peterson urges theatremakers to focus on creating work about the climate crisis specifically for their local communities, drawing on lessons from the current response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEGAL TALKS: Guillermo Calderón (Chile)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Guillermo Calderón (Chile)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Friday 24 April 2020

Chile

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Guillermo Calderón (Chile) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 24 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2)

keren ann and arthur_nauzyciel headshots

SEGAL TALKS: Arthur Nauzyciel & Keren Ann (France)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Arthur Nauzyciel & Keren Ann (France)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Thursday 23 April 2020

France

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Arthur Nauzyciel & Keren Ann (France) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 23 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2)

Writing from Shock: Writing During a Pandemic

Crystal

Skillman

Video

Writing from Shock: Writing During a Pandemic

with playwright Crystal Skillman

Wednesday 22 April 2020

United States

Playwright Crystal Skillman presented Writing from Shock: Writing During a Pandemic livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 22 April 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 20:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 21:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

SEGAL TALKS: Basil Jones (South Africa)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Basil Jones (South Africa)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Wednesday 22 April 2020

South Africa

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Basil Jones (South Africa) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 22 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

SEGAL TALKS: Richard Schechner (NYC)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Richard Schechner (NYC)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Tuesday 21 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Richard Schechner (NYC) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 21 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

Loving Theatre in the Time of COVID-19

Noelle

Viñas

Essay

Loving Theatre in the Time of COVID-19

A Playwright's Response

21 April 2020

Playwright Noelle Viñas reflects on the grief she’s experiencing during the current global pandemic and talks about reframing theatre as an art of the now rather than an art of futurity.

SEGAL TALKS: Milo Rau (Switzerland)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Milo Rau (Switzerland)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Monday 20 April 2020

Switzerland

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Milo Rau (Switzerland) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 20 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

SEGAL TALKS: Grzegorz Jarzyna (TR Warszawa) with Agata Kołacz & Roman Pawłowski (Poland)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Grzegorz Jarzyna (TR Warszawa) with Agata Kołacz & Roman Pawłowski (Poland)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Friday 17 April 2020

Poland

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Grzegorz Jarzyna (TR Warszawa) with Agata Kołacz & Roman Pawłowski (Poland) livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 17 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

SEGAL TALKS: Shahid Nadeem (Pakistan) + Abhishek Majumdar & Anurupa Roy (India)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Shahid Nadeem (Pakistan) + Abhishek Majumdar & Anurupa Roy (India)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Thursday 16 April 2020

India & Pakistan

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Shahid Nadeem (Pakistan) + Abhishek Majumdar & Anurupa Roy (India) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 16 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

"Our Voices Are the Future of Theatre"

Herbert

Sigüenza

Essay

"Our Voices Are the Future of Theatre"

An Interview with Seven Latinx Playwrights During COVID-19

16 April 2020

Playwright Herbert Sigüenza talks to seven of his Latinx playwriting friends about how they’ve been affected by COVID-19, writing during this time, the future of Latinx theatre in the United States, and more.

SEGAL TALKS: Melanie Joseph (The Foundry Theatre) with Aaron Landsman & Aurin Squire (NYC, USA)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Melanie Joseph (The Foundry Theatre) with Aaron Landsman & Aurin Squire (NYC, USA)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Wednesday 15 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Melanie Joseph (The Foundry Theatre) with Aaron Landsman & Aurin Squire (NYC, USA) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 15 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

Look for the Helpers: Learnings and Teachings for Building Resilience (ASL & Captioned)

Video

Look for the Helpers: Learnings and Teachings for Building Resilience (ASL & Captioned)

an #ArtistResource talk with Leslie Ishii, Lana Smithner, Aaron McKinney, David Shmidt Chapman, and B. Anderson

Tuesday 14 April 2020

United States

Livestreamed the #ArtistResource panel Look for the Helpers: Learnings and Teachings for Building Resilience (ASL & Captioned) on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 14 April 2020 at 8 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UST-10) / 10 a.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-8) / 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

SEGAL TALKS: Kelly Copper & Pavol Liska (Nature Theatre of Oklahoma) + Annie-B Parson & Paul Lazar (Big Dance Theatre) (NYC, USA)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Kelly Copper & Pavol Liska (Nature Theatre of Oklahoma) + Annie-B Parson & Paul Lazar (Big Dance Theatre) (NYC, USA)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Tuesday 14 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Kelly Copper & Pavol Liska (Nature Theatre of Oklahoma) + Annie-B Parson & Paul Lazar (Big Dance Theatre) (NYC, USA) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 14 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

a screen capture of an ASL interpreter and live captions for a presenter on a Zoom video conference that was livestreamed

How to Produce a Livestreamed Event

Vijay

Mathew

Essay

How to Produce a Livestreamed Event

A Producer’s Guide to the Tools and Embedded Values

14 April 2020

Vijay Mathew, HowlRound’s cultural strategist, offers a guide to producing and livestreaming events online.

SEGAL TALKS: Keith Adkins (The New Black Fest) with Dennis A. Allen II, France-Luce Benson, Lisa Strum (NYC, USA)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Keith Adkins (The New Black Fest) with Dennis A. Allen II, France-Luce Benson, Lisa Strum (NYC, USA)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Monday 13 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Keith Adkins (The New Black Fest) with Dennis A. Allen II, France-Luce Benson, Lisa Strum (NYC, USA) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 13 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

SEGAL TALKS: Aristide Tarnagda (Burkina Faso)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Aristide Tarnagda (Burkina Faso)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Friday 10 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Aristide Tarnagda (Burkina Faso) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 10 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

Performance Despite the Pandemic

Asif

Majid

Essay

Performance Despite the Pandemic

Continuing to Create at the Intersection of Coronavirus, Crisis, and Care

9 April 2020

Theatremaker Asif Majid talks about adapting his show, Snapshots, for a digital space after COVID-19 shut down theatres across the country.

headshots of Chou Tung-yen, Wu-Kang Chen, & Kathy Hong

SEGAL TALKS: Chou Tung-yen, Wu-Kang Chen, & Kathy Hong (Taiwan)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Chou Tung-yen, Wu-Kang Chen, & Kathy Hong (Taiwan)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Wednesday 8 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Chou Tung-yen, Wu-Kang Chen & Kathy Hong (Taiwan) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 8 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

Taking a Pause in Response to a COVID-19 World

KAJA

DUNN

Essay

Taking a Pause in Response to a COVID-19 World

8 April 2020

Kaja Dunn reflects on how quickly the world turned upside down with COVID-19 and offers a simple idea before rushing into to creating new work: take a breath and allow for a moment to process all that is happening.

SEGAL TALKS: Lucia Calamaro, Graziano Graziani & Valeria Orani (Italy)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Lucia Calamaro, Graziano Graziani & Valeria Orani (Italy)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Tuesday 7 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: SEGAL TALKS: Lucia Calamaro, Graziano Graziani & Valeria Orani (Italy) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 7 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

Pandemic Theatre Aesthetic

Jonathan

Mandell

Essay

Pandemic Theatre Aesthetic

7 April 2020

Jonathan Mandell examines the new theatrical landscape brought on by COVID-19 and discusses the emerging aesthetic—one that is low-tech, low-key, one-on-one, close-up.

SEGAL TALKS: Sahar Assaf (Lebanon); Dalia Basiouny & Laila Soliman (Egypt)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Sahar Assaf (Lebanon); Dalia Basiouny & Laila Soliman (Egypt)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Monday 6 April 2020

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Sahar Assaf (Lebanon); Dalia Basiouny & Laila Soliman (Egypt) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 6 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

SEGAL TALKS: Toshiki Okada (Japan)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Toshiki Okada (Japan)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Friday 3 April 2020

Japan

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Toshiki Okada (Japan) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 3 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).

portraits of Marco Martinelli & Ermanna Montanari

SEGAL TALKS: Marco Martinelli & Ermanna Montanari; Teatro delle Albe (Ravenna, Italy)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS: Marco Martinelli & Ermanna Montanari; Teatro delle Albe (Ravenna, Italy)

Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists

Thursday 2 April 2020

Ravenna, Italy

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Marco Martinelli & Ermanna Montanari; Teatro delle Albe (Ravenna, Italy) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 2 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).