By ELLEANA ORTIZ
Anderson University Student
Imagine standing on a stage, lights beaming down, seats filled with people, castmates by your side – and the next day it all disappears because of a global pandemic.
Burke
This was the reality for Westfield resident Anya Burke and virtually everyone else in the performing arts industry.
Burke graduated from Westfield High School in 2020. That spring, her school’s production of Shrek the Musical was postponed until August because of COVID-19.
Shortly thereafter, she began her freshman year at Anderson University, where in-person productions were canceled throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming into school,” Burke said. “Broadway was shut down, so I didn’t know if we would do any shows or what all we’d be doing.”
Preparing her professional career during the pandemic proved to be challenging. Burke remembers how frustrating it was to not be able to perform for a live audience due to COVID restrictions.
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For most of her freshman year, Burke was part of numerous collaborations between the musical theater program and Anderson’s cinema and media arts program – resulting in shows that were staged for video rather than an in-person audience.
“Any experience is a good experience,” she said, “but that’s not what I came to school for.”
Regardless of how much she enjoyed the video collaborations, what she loves most is performing live.
Although many people were able to work remotely during the pandemic, the performing arts are best done in person with a live audience. Burke’s program was still able to have vocal lessons and acting classes, but students couldn’t get the full experience without performance opportunities.
“Being able to do a show is kind of like a final project – putting everything together – and we weren’t able to do that,” she said.
However, as the pandemic eased in recent months, Anderson University performances were once again taking place live on stage with in-person audiences and without masks.
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When asked how the pandemic has permanently affected the industry, Burke chooses to emphasize the positive.
“A lot more things are online,” she said. “There are a lot more video auditions, which opens the doors to many more opportunities.”
It’s difficult when performances are canceled because one person tests positive for COVID-19, she added. But if someone is available to step into a role, “swings and understudies are starting to get more recognition, which is good.”
This spring semester was the first time Burke performed in front of a “normal” live audience since the start of COVID-19. She recently starred in an off-campus production of The Little Mermaid. She also performed in the AU production of The Drowning Girls.
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Burke finished her sophomore year in May. Once she graduates from Anderson in the spring of 2024, she plans to do musical theater work on cruise ships, which is a good way to gain experience.
“Eventually, I want to work my way to New York,” she said, “or audition for a tour, or go to Chicago.
“I just want to keep performing. It’s fun to have that interaction with the audience, and I’ve missed that.”