About
Virtual Theatre Collaboration
OUR HISTORY
In mid-March of 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic theatres across the country received news that any productions would be canceled. Unfortunately for theatre students currently receiving an education, these productions provided collaborative experiences that provide social circles, artistic engagement, and critical thinking opportunities. Liam Dec decided that he must find a way for himself and his peers to continue to work together. Approaching Natalie Houle and Dominique Torrez about the concept, he asked: “How crazy is this idea?” Utilizing the rise of technology in light of social distancing mandates, Virtual Theatre Collaboration (VTC) seeks to connect artists with audiences regardless of the circumstances. We aim to share the entire experience of the theatre artist’s journey, from rehearsals to meetings to production. Our want is for audiences everywhere to not only enjoy our productions but learn from them: our community may be physically isolated, but we are still connected.
ABOUT US
Virtual Theatre Collaboration (VTC) is an artists' collective that seeks to inspire the creation of theatre while establishing a community that is dedicated to producing work that prioritizes marginalized groups, despite the current climate.
Our format consists of the creative process of a fully staged production - in an experimental digital structure. Original plays are worked on by groups of collaborators consisting of actors, directors, and designers. Research, physical creations, digital creations, and paperwork are produced to support and convey the world of the play. Rather than a performance, the “final product” consists of a video recording of the piece and then a video, audio, and photo compilation of each collaborator’s creative work that is shared on social media.
Our focus is on the education that artists receive during their production. VTC hopes to engage, inspire, and provide a safe creative space for artists during these troubling times. We are excited to embark on this journey together and look forward to what will surely be a memorable experience learning to create art in the face of global crisis.
MEET THE VTC BOARD
GABRIELLA RIVERA
Artistic Director
Gabriella Rivera is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz class of 2020 with a BA in Theatre Technology and Design and a minor in Deaf Studies. She has worked on several productions at New Paltz as a student. She has also collaborated with VTC since its inception: as Prop Master (Morning Coffee), Lighting Designer (Plane Potty), and most recently last season's director of Spit. This season, she is delighted to take over the role of Artistic Director with Olivia, creating new spaces and art that works to embolden marginalized communities.
OLIVIA CRAWFORD
Artistic Director
Olivia Crawford is a theatre producer and stage manager who graduated from UCLA in March 2020. She was an Artistic Director and Executive Producer for HOOLIGAN Theatre Company for two years, but has also worked at two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, the Powerhouse 2019 Season with New York Stage and Film, and two film production companies, Red Rabbit Pictures and New Horizons Pictures. She is currently an Administrative Assistant with the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival and a producer on a new work called The Sun Will Rise with London-based company City Lighthouse. She loved every second working with VTC throughout the summer season and is overjoyed to be a part of the new VTC Board. She thanks Nat and Dom for giving her this opportunity, the Spit team for starting her VTC career with a bang, and Gabbie for inspiring her and making her laugh every single day.
Abby Rose
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Abby Rose is a current junior at SUNY New Paltz studying Technical Theater and Design with a concentration in Lighting alongside majoring in Visual arts. They are so excited to be continuing their work with VTC this summer in this new way. You can find more of her work here https://abbyroseart.webnode.com/!
Christopher D. Faris
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN
Christopher Faris (he/his) is a Senior at SUNY New Paltz, who majors in Digital Media Production. He found a passion in post-production at an early age when he would create content for video game websites. During his time at SUNY New Paltz, he worked on various productions including informational videos, and short comedies. He is excited to intern for VTC and learn about the amazing world of theater.
ESTABLISHING MEMBERS
Dominique Torrez is a current Senior Theatre Major at SUNY New Paltz with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Although she started as a performer in the theatre, her focus has majorly shifted to directing and production, with an emphasis on socially conscious work. Her previous work with New Paltz includes assistant directing Cheerwars and In The Time of the Butterflies, and directing 14. Her time as the Artistic Director of VTC has been a wild, challenging ride and she extends a thank you to all company members, past and present, for being there every step of the way.
Natalie Margaret Houle is a SUNY New Paltz Graduate with a BA in Theatre Arts: Design and Technology and a minor in Music. Nat is a sound designer and audio engineer and recently composed the music and executed the designs for The Servant of Two Masters, She Kills Monsters, FURY!, and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. Nat has worked as a broadcast A2 for the past four years on shows such as Good Morning America and as a theatre A2 at ACT of Connecticut, as well as being an RF A2 at Dick Clark's 2020 New Years Rockin' Eve in Times Square. Nat was so proud to work at the helm of VTC as its Technical Director, and is incredibly thankful that VTC gave her a means to survive through the pandemic together with fellow students, peers, and friends.