What’s Going On: Viral Topics, Personal Stories, Virtual Performances

How can the vibrant tradition of theatre performance continue during social distancing? Since COVID-19 has restricted audiences from gathering to enjoy live performances, the Department of Theatre & Dance has released "What's Going On: Viral Topics, Personal Stories, Virtual Performances."

This production contains adult content and language that may not be suitable for all audiences. Press "f" for fullscreen.

"What's Going On" is a collection of student-written and performed monologues that offer UM-Flint performers a platform to express what they are thinking, fighting for, dealing with, or hoping for while society reckons with political divide, racism, and COVID-19.

Their stories range from the playful to the painful, poetic to the profane. All encapsulate the deeply human and deeply felt experiences many of us have shared in the past year.

The goals in doing a student-written collection of stories are numerous – offering students an opportunity to experiment with writing their own material and making their own opportunities during this unprecedented time, as well as to capture this moment in time through the art of storytelling – an ancient creative practice that is a keystone of the theatre and a critical part of the liberal arts on UM-Flint's campus.

We look forward to the time live performances can resume at the UM-Flint Theatre very soon!

Actors & Playwrights

Jayden Johnson
Melanie Jones
Enrique Vargas
Leo Clark
Alyssa Banister
Olivia Maxwell-Cook

The collection of monologues that you will see were filmed in-person at the University of Michigan – Flint Theatre within state and University COVID guidelines.