Student Performing Arts Update for January 2022
Hi all,
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as the Spring 2022 semester begins. We know that the delayed in-person start has been challenging, and Platt House and the PAC Shop are here to support you. We are all disappointed that the best laid plans are once again disrupted by Covid 19, but we are optimistic that this is temporary. We are asking you to be mindful of everyone’s needs as we push through as a student performing arts community. In advance of this long email, we need to say that we at Platt House and the PAC Shop are committed to working with you on modifications and solutions to make this semester work. We await more directives from the University together and we will get through this together.
Platt House & PAC–Exec will be hosting a virtual Town Hall on Saturday, 1/15 for all student performing arts groups. At that meeting, we will discuss the updates below, share any new guidance, and answer any questions you have to the best of our ability at that time. This meeting is mandatory for all student performing arts groups. Please be sure to send at least one Exec/Board member. This should be someone very knowledgeable about the group who will report the details back to all group members.
Student Performing Arts Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, 1/15 @ 5pm ET
Note: The Zoom Link has been removed from this website in the interest of cybersecurity. Please contact your group’s PAC Representative on the PAC-Rep listserv, or email us at platthouse[at]pobox.upenn.edu for the link.
Mandatory for all student performing arts groups
As shared previously, in-person student group gatherings, including student performing arts activities, will not be permitted until at least Monday, 1/24. This date will likely be extended. This is a mitigation strategy for Covid-19, and this policy has been communicated from Campus Health and University Life leadership. We cannot control how long in-person student group activities will be suspended, and we will share any updates as we receive them. Please make sure your groups do not gather in person while in-person student group gatherings are not permitted. We expect University guidance on this very soon.
Platt House will be open with limited hours and limited capacity starting on Wednesday, 1/12. Capacity in rehearsal rooms will be limited to one person per room max, and capacity in the Lobby will be limited to 5 people max, spread out throughout the space. Green passes will be checked, and either N95 or double masks need to be worn at all times, no exceptions. Below is the current schedule, starting Wednesday, 1/12:
- Sundays: 1pm-5pm
- Mondays through Fridays: 12pm-8pm
- Platt House will be closed on Monday, 1/17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Saturdays: Closed
The PAC Shop will be open by appointment only (https://tinyurl.com/
At this point, since we do not know exactly how student performing arts activities will unfold for this semester, we are working on and we encourage you all to work on backup plans. This can include plans for virtual auditions, rehearsals, and shows; pushing back activities until later in the semester; scaling down productions (the PAC Shop can assist with these logistics); sharing resources; and more.
At this point, Platt House, the PAC Shop, and PAC–Exec believe it would be wise to plan for all performances to occur either after Spring Break and/or to be produced virtually. We are hopeful that student performances can be conducted in-person later in the semester, and virtual is always an option to keep in mind.
Given a shortened timeline for in-person activities this semester, and in order to be equitable to groups, we will be asking you to share resources more than in a typical in-person semester. This may mean additional groups in space shares, scaled down productions, shortened tech times, and more. This consolidation will require your input. PAC–Exec will send a form out for your input, and this will be discussed at the Town Hall.
We will be rescheduling the Pre-Production meeting originally scheduled for Friday, 1/14 at 3:30pm, so you can remove that calendar item for now.
We absolutely understand that these updates are not what anyone was hoping for as we begin this new semester. We are here to support you. Feel free to send any questions to platthouse[at]pobox.upenn.edu or reserve them for our meeting on the 15th. We may not be able to answer all questions right away, but we will do our best.
We are so grateful to work with all the students in this vibrant community, and we look forward to supporting you and your missions as the semester continues. Please take care.
Best,
Platt House & the PAC Shop
Restarting and Reuniting – In Person Performing Arts
Dear Members of the Student Performing Arts Community,
I hope you are having wonderful summers. At Platt House and in the PAC Shop, we are so happy that we will be open and in person this academic year. As the University has stated, Penn will be open at full capacity for the academic year. In fact, Platt House already has available hours for full rehearsal room usage. You may be pinching yourself and asking if this is real. We get it. There is a certain anxious feeling about just jumping back in after so much time with restrictions. We too are wrestling with that feeling.
Yet, the excitement is also real. Here is the chance to plan in a smart and strategic way. An analogy might be that that you have been in a desert without water for a long time and when you finally get to that water, you drink so much of it in one sitting that you become ill. Ideally, you would have built up to a normal amount of water in your system so your body could process it. The elated feeling of ending your thirst will turn to an unhealthy feeling, and you will wish you hadn’t over indulged. We are asking you to use this logic when planning your performing arts experiences as well. Groups are no longer used to 20 hours of rehearsal per week or having multiple shows complete with all the production required for an in-person experience. Savor the experience of being able to do what you love without overdoing it. Prioritize your rehearsal and performance needs without losing the chance to bond and engage with each other. Soak in the moment without losing yourself and all your free time. Step back in one foot at a time, and be mindful of all that you are doing.
In addition, there are takeaways from this pandemic that we can still apply. Many groups made your shows accessible to everyone. Why stop now? You found ways to meet over Zoom. Could Zoom meetings help you this year too when you all can’t be in the same room? Many of you dove into social justice issues. Don’t stop now. Overall, some people felt more in tune with their mental health needs and the needs of others. Let’s keep that going. And let’s normalize mask wearing for those who wish to keep using masks to protect themselves. Mask acceptance is important.
Lastly, remember that we are here to help. PAC-Exec is here to help. And you should have all identified someone in your group or a recently graduated individual who can help you remember how to do in-person shows. We are planning helpful training sessions as well as an engaging PAC CONference. You can also ask us anything at any time. Or just let us know what you are doing by reaching out or in a meeting with your group advisor. We love to hear from you, and we cannot wait to see you.
Stay tuned for informative emails as we continue our summers. Stay safe and keep in touch.
With warm greetings from all of us at Platt House and the PAC Shop,
Best,
Laurie
Message from Platt House and the PAC Shop regarding Anti-Asian and Anti-American Acts of Violence
Platt House and the PAC Shop join the University community in condemning anti-Asian and anti-Asian American acts of violence, including the recent attacks in Atlanta. We want to reiterate that as a department at the University, we support you and stand with you in solidarity against these abhorrent and violent actions of racism and white supremacy.
We are so grateful to our colleagues in the Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH), Penn Global, and members of the Task Force on Support to Asian and Asian American Students and Scholars (TAAAS) for their work on addressing this ongoing crisis. Please visit the TAAAS website to learn more about this work and the FlattenTheHate campaign.
Additionally, PAACH and Penn Global are offering the upcoming opportunities to engage:
Turning off the Gaslights and Illuminating Brace Spaces – Anti-Racism & Mental Wellness Workshop featuring Dr. Ramani Durvasula
Thursday, 3/18, 8pm-9:30pm ET
Register here: http://bit.ly/STOPPINGHATE Stopping the Hate and Starting to Heal: Living With and Through the COVID-19 Pandemic
Restorative Practice Circles for the Penn Asian & Asian American Communities
Circles for Undergrad, Grad, & Professional Students, Faculty, Staff, Post-Docs, Faculty, Alumni
Dates and Registration link available here: https://paachatupenn.ticketleap.com/
More information on these programs can be found below.
Platt House is hosting a Performing Arts Anti-Racist workshop for interested students in April. For more details, and to sign up, please visit our site: https://upenn.co1.
We send our support to our Asian and Asian American community members. We see you, and we are here to support you.
Sincerely,
Platt House & PAC Shop Staff
Laurie McCall
Megan Edelman
James Grant
Sara Outing
Amanda Labonte
Michelle Moller
Fall 2020 Follow Up
Dear PAC,
This week we all learned that the Fall 2020 semester will be fully virtual. While we had been eager to share our provisional plans for in-person activities, this latest update has released us from uncertainty and given new clarity to the situation. At Platt House and the PAC Shop, this moment is bittersweet: we are very sad that we must wait longer to be all together and to witness your creative power in person, and we are thankful that in the meantime, this decision keeps us all out of harm’s way.
Platt House and PAC Shop Staff are now refocusing our efforts with PAC-Exec to shape a lively and fulfilling semester of virtual programming that is accessible to our full community, wherever they may be across the globe. We look forward to incorporating your values, questions, and ideas into how this semester will take shape for student performing arts. Along with PAC Exec, we will be reaching out to determine next steps.
We want to remind everyone that your virtual engagement, social media posts, and recorded performances have already brought so much positivity to the world of Penn during this pandemic. We found out that other Penn departments were starting meetings with your videos to help uplift everyone. Your talents are endless, and we have been inspired to see you bravely adapt to your digital audience. A big round of applause to you!
In the meantime, please know that we are thinking of you, working to create meaningful programs, and looking forward to the end of this pandemic now more than ever. The past five months have affected us all deeply, sometimes in ways that are difficult to acknowledge and harder to share. Please know that it is completely valid to feel sorrow and mourn this loss. Please come to us for resources, for difficult conversations, for lightness and celebrations, for space to grieve – whatever you need. We’ll be here, just a few clicks away.
Sincerely,
Platt House and PAC Shop Staff
Megan Edelman
James Grant
Amanda Labonte
Laurie McCall
Michelle Moller
Sara Outing
A Note from Platt Student Performing Arts House in Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
University of Pennsylvania Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
We are assuming that members of the University community have seen the various messages from President Gutmann and Provost Pritchett throughout March 2020. Those messages can be reviewed here.
We know this is a challenging time and it is heartbreaking for the entire Penn community, including those of you who were working on shows and getting ready to graduate. Platt Ho
use wants to make sure you are each taking care of yourselves. We want to reiterate that Platt House is a resource for you, so please do not hesitate to reach out.
The physical Platt House center is closed for the foreseeable future. Please disregard any building signage to the contrary. That being said, Platt House staff will continue our mission of supporting students during this time. You can reach the full team remotely at platthouse[at]pobox.upenn.edu.
Due to the University’s response and policies, any current standing reservation in Platt House (175, 176, 177, 179, 180, Lobby, Muravchick Lounge & Stage) has been canceled. Additionally, upcoming student shows for the Spring 2020 semester have been canceled. As a Penn/PAC/SAC sponsored group, you cannot mount a show during this restricted time.
Platt House is developing virtual content and programming. Stay tuned for more details regarding these updates. We will be sure to keep communicating with students, and please let us know how we can help. Be sure to check your email regularly. Below there are some helpful links with more information from Penn.
Please note: It is possible that new updates could happen any day. Our programs and plans could be affected, and we may need to adjust our expectations and strategies. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we all learn and adapt. Please check this page for the most updated information on Platt Student Performing Arts House. The most updated information from the University can be found here: https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/
Please be in touch with any questions or concerns. Take care of yourselves.
Sincerely,
Platt House Staff
https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/
https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/students-families/student-faq
A Message to the Platt House Community – Black Lives Matter
Dear Students,
We are reaching out to all of you during this incredibly turbulent and painful time to offer our support and resources and to hold ourselves accountable for those pledges.
We condemn the injustices that continue to devastate our community – the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and thousands of others; the perpetuation of white supremacy and police brutality; all amidst the backdrop of healthcare inequity and tragic losses from COVID-19.
We are inspired by the work of our campus partners to create spaces to address these injustices. We cannot pretend to imagine what each of you is feeling, but we want to make sure you know that we are here and listening. You are seen, and you are heard, and you are valid.
In acknowledging the pain of our community, we must also acknowledge that silence is harmful. During the time that it has taken for our staff to process; to listen; to coordinate and craft our message; and to check in on each other, our friends, and our students – this public platform has been silent, and therefore we have been complicit in this harm. We must do better.
Artists have the power to inform, create empathy, and offer healing to individuals and communities. In times of joy, in times of anger, in times of need, in times of pain, we look to artists to lift us, to create space for us, to provide meaning for us. As artists, each of you has a tremendous gift. You may not be in a place to use it right now, and you should not feel pressured to. Each person needs something different in the midst of tragedy. Listen to yourself and to what you need. We simply want to remind you of the power within.
As we all continue to process, Platt House staff is here to listen. If you want to articulate things you need from us or things you would like to see happen, you can reach our full team at platthouse[at]pobox.upenn.edu.
In the meantime, Platt House and PAC-Exec are collaborating to create spaces for open discussion among Penn students, beginning with a live, digital space to check in and talk about anything that may be on your mind. We plan to follow this event with additional check-ins in different formats and the opportunity for our students to offer written feedback, to help inform further programming. Our goal is to build programs that don’t simply address our own impulse to help, but that are thoughtful, thorough, and responsive to your needs. We will do this work with our student leaders, our peers and our campus partners, holding ourselves and each other accountable for continuing this work.
While we prepare more helpful guides and programs, please do not hesitate to contact us and other campus centers. We’re all processing this moment differently, and we will look to a variety of resources that may help us to listen, to speak, to understand, and to heal.
We stand in solidarity with anyone who is experiencing this trauma and with those who are fighting back. Black lives matter.
Sincerely and with respect,
Platt Student Performing Arts House
The following University resources remain available to you while campus operates remotely:
CAPS
Student Health
Office of the Chaplain
Makuu Black Cultural Center
La Casa Latina
Pan Asian-American Community House
Greenfield Intercultural Center
LGBT Center
Penn Women’s Center
Graduate Student Center
Family Resource Center
Restorative Justice Book Club & Optional Discussion Sessions (details below)
- Restorative Justice Book Club Meetings – Second Fridays June, July and August (6/12, 7/10, and 8/14 from 1-2:30pm EDT)
- Optional Discussion Sessions from Restorative Practices @ Penn – 6/26, 7/24, and 8/28, from 1-2pm EDT
- Are you interested in Restorative, Transformative, or Healing Justice? Would you like to build community with classmates and work to bring this movement to Penn? Restorative Practices @ Penn is hosting a monthly book discussion this summer, open to anyone interested, no commitment required!
- Sign up to share your book preferences and to be notified about the book that is chosen, and the articles/videos selected for the additional conversations. Feel free to drop in or invite friends along the way! Please reach out to pcerdera[at]upenn.edu for information about financial support. Space may be limited, so please indicate your interest soon! https://forms.gle/7kLBexw7SvhfLsBd7