With theatre productions heavily impacted by COVID safeguards this semester, the department found unique solutions that allowed performances to continue in a virtual format. “In order to multiply opportunities in this new creative process, we chose to commission three new plays, each written to meet the needs of our unique technical requirements,” said associate chair and Artistic Director Adam Houghton. 

“Illusionary Tales” features the work of three BYU alumni. “Balete Drive,” by Melissa Leilani Larson, is based on the Hispanic legend of La Llorona. “For Such a Time as This,” by James Goldberg, builds on the Jewish tradition of a golem or clay guardian. And “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Andrew Justvig, references the famous story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe.

The production includes a surprise designed to captivate viewers: a theatre technique known as Pepper’s Ghost, borrowed from Victorian London and fine-tuned by the department’s design and technology students for a modern-day twist. 

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