Applause thunders as Carissa Hudson steps onto the stage to walk between the cast of “The Living,” West Campus’s fall play. A bright smile is under her mask as she bows in front of the audience. The bright lights block out the fact that the audience is only around 25 people.

Hudson, a junior at West Campus, was the student director of ‘The Living.’ She aided the director of the show in all of the acting decisions and helped the actors work on anything from their lines to their posture when they walked onto the stage.

All of this being done in the middle of a global pandemic.

Building connections between cast and crew members have been harder than ever when they cannot do their normal bonding traditions, or hang out outside of school to get to know each other. “We had to find new ways to connect and to work as a team without getting too close,” Hudson states about her experience working with the others in the play.

After around 3 total months of preparation for the show and bonding between members of the cast and crew, there were only two showing “I feel that the actors portrayed the topic in such a beautiful and effortless way that it is hard not to resonate deeply with them,” Hudson says. “I am proud to have been a part of this production and I am grateful to have worked with such dedicated people.”

The day before they were supposed to have their last two shows, the cast and crew of “The Living” were told that due to COVID-19 their last two shows would be canceled. The irony of the situation was due to the fact the play about the disease was being canceled due to a pandemic.

“I understand the reasoning behind the cancellation of the last two shows, but it doesn’t take away from how disappointing the situation is,” Hudson states, heartbroken that a show she worked hard on was being canceled. “Although we are all understandably upset about the cancellation of the last two shows, it was ultimately the best choice in regards to the health and safety of everyone involved in the show.”

COVID-19 has provided a lot of set-backs for everyone, but this play overcame many of those setbacks. Most of the people involved thought they wouldn’t even be able to have one performance.

“I think knowing that at any moment, the show could be shut down made us work even harder.  I would not have it any other way.”