A single light is left on in the Dr. Daniel H. Harrop Theater at Bishop Hendricken High School, holding out for the return of the many student thespians who typically occupy the theater for hours on end. This past weekend, it would have been the site of their long-awaited production of The Great Gatsby; in observance of social distancing guidelines, however, it has been postponed indefinitely until the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has subsided.

With an announcement from Gov. Gina Raimondo this past Monday canceling physical classes in Rhode Island public schools through the end of April, the future of students in the state continues to look uncertain. For those students in Warwick whose livelihoods are found in extracurricular activities - especially those that include large gatherings of students - how have they kept the spirit of the show alive?

Hendricken, whose show choir and theater programs include students from multiple schools across Rhode Island, has felt the impact of new policy as the size of permitted gatherings has steadily decreased over time as the pandemic spreads. As a recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases has shown, the need to slow the spread of the disease has never been more crucial - that means avoiding in-person meetings at all costs.

Richard Sylvia, Director of Arts at Bishop Hendricken, estimates approximately 40 percent of the school’s show choir season was lost due to the abrupt cancellation - including a Nashville competition and several others. As the students begin preparing for competition in late August and work together throughout the school year, Sylvia likens their bond to that of a family. Though the pandemic has certainly complicated things, the students have been adamant in ensuring that they keep in contact.

“This doesn’t mean we can’t be together in any way, shape, or form,” said Sylvia. He described how the online virtual meetings enabled by the Zoom Virtual Communications software has enabled the students to receive closure by meeting together online to discuss their time in the program. Zoom, which has lifted the restrictions on its free accounts to accommodate educators during the pandemic, allows users to share audio and video feed for the purpose of online teaching and discussion.

Through the struggles of the pandemic, the directors at Hendricken have encouraged their students to continue pursuing their love of performance from the safety of their homes.

“Share your art, share your gift,” has become an enduring phrase for the students affected, according to Sylvia. Through social media and other forms of contact, he said, students can continue to engage in doing what they love without putting themselves or others in danger.

Richard Denningham, director of the drama program at Pilgrim High School, described the complications faced by students as a result of their spring production being tentatively rescheduled for late May. 

“You put a lot of time and money into a show, but in the grand scheme of things a school play is not as important as keeping families and students safe,” said Denningham. “Because of the nature of the pandemic, we don't know what's going to happen next. We can't come up with a solid plan right now because nobody knows what's going to happen.”

Pilgrim, which typically hosts a musical in the fall and a play in the spring, has seen its rehearsal schedule interrupted heavily by the pandemic; Denningham described the frustration that comes with such obstacles as necessary to live with in order to ensure safety for students and their families.

Toll Gate High School’s spring play, Peter and the Starcatcher, has been postponed indefinitely from its original date scheduled for late March; a talent show organized by students and faculty was also canceled earlier the same month. English teacher Darlene Netcoh, who spearheads the group said Monday she received special approval from the administration to distribute T-shirts the students had made for the show. She won’t be leaving her car to make the home deliveries.

Outside of extracurriculars, many other facets of high school life have faced unprecedented setbacks. The free, in-school SAT administrations originally set for March 25 have been canceled by the Rhode Island Department of Education; the College Board has canceled all test dates up to May 2, refunding all students pre-registered for the program. With the future uncertain, several colleges in America have waived their standardized test requirement; in nearby Massachusetts, both Boston University and Tufts University will make submitting scores optional for students enrolling in the fall of 2021.

Distance learning initiated on March 23 has turned households of Warwick students into classrooms, with students communicating with teachers and classmates through various online services to complete weekly assignments. As students enter this third week physically away from school due to the pandemic, fears regarding the futures of prom, graduation, and other milestones are abundant. While the future of Rhode Island high schoolers - especially that of the graduating class of 2020 - remains unclear, one thing is certain: the drive to protect loved ones and the community will guide their actions in the coming weeks.