taking theater into a natural settingVirus Theater is taking theater into a natural setting (Courtesy Virus Theater)After over a year and a half without a live audience, Virus Theater is back at its own particular brand of magic – bringing relevant, live, original theater to our Grant County community. 

Virus Theater will present Scratched, an original play created by the Virus Theater Creative Ensemble. Scratched is a one-act, one-hour adventure in the woods. Three women on an adventure therapy backpacking trip find themselves lost in the woods, unaware of what they might actually find out there.

Scratched will be performed at a location in the woods north of Silver City, a 25-35 minute drive from town. Location details will be shared with all confirmed ticket holders.  Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. 

Planning for a live performance during the pandemic has been a challenge, hence the wilderness location. When the Virus Theater Creative Ensemble started meeting in early spring to develop this original play, Grant County was solidly in the yellow level of New Mexico’s red-to-green framework for COVID safety. 

Even so, “a life in theater has instilled in me the classic theater maxim, “The show must go on!” and so we were determined to make it happen,” notes Virus Theater Founder and Artistic Director Teresa Dahl-Bredine. “We have a history of performing outdoors and in various unexpected Grant County locations, so this felt like an amazing opportunity to bring our theater and audiences outside together,” says Dahl-Bredine.

Given the logistics of the wilderness location, audience members are asked to arrive between 7:25 and 7:45, and will be greeted at the parking lot and guided through the woods to the show location, a gentle hike of less than 5 minutes from the parking lot. The show will begin at 8pm and last approximately 50 minutes. Chairs will be provided and audience members are recommended to bring layers of clothing and a flashlight. Mask are optional. All Virus Theater adult actors and crew are vaccinated. Attendees may or may not be.  When the other kind of nature calls, portapotties are available in the parking lot.

The Details:

SCRATCHED, an original play by Virus Theater

Time and Date: 7:30pm June 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30

Place: The Woods, 16 miles from Silver City. Exact location revealed when reservations are confirmed.  

Tickets: $12 adults, $7 students. Pay-what-you-can tickets available on 6/24 and 6/27.

Tickets by advanced reservation only, limited seating.

Email virustheater@gmail.com for more information or purchase tickets at https://www.virustheater.com/shows

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