SOUTH HADLEY – The stage is set, and the lights are back on at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School (PVPA) in South Hadley as dance and theater students return to the rhythm of performing in front of live audiences. It’s been almost two years since the theater stopped having indoor performances due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

On Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, inside the school’s main theater, dancers finally returned to the stage with their first indoor production called “Off the Grid,” a senior thesis dance show, directed by Felice Santorelli.

On Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, theater students will take the stage in the production, “Perhaps, Unfortunately...” with four short plays, directed by three seniors and one sophomore.

Anna Long, one of the senior directors of the short play “The Lottery,” shared her experience of being able to perform only one show outdoors last year due to COVID-19 and now making the transition back into the theater. “Last year, our school was, fortunately, able to put on a production outdoors, which was really nice. So that kind of made that transition a little easier. But definitely, it’s really lovely being able to get back on the stage again, being able to use things more like lighting and the sound aspects of it to really be able to convey our vision is much better,” she said.

PVPA’s new Artistic Director and Theater teacher Molly Scerbo is overseeing the students. She recently started the position after it suddenly became vacant early this fall.

She emphasized that she thinks it is “very exciting” for the students to be putting on the play. “It’s really awesome that these students have really taken the lead and taken initiative that they wanted to have this production occur even though it was a little up in the air having a theater teacher at that point,” she said.

Natalia Jacobs, a senior who directs the play “Memory,” stated that senior performers hadn’t been in a production “since 10th grade” and agreed with Long that being able to “get the technical aspects again is amazing.” She added, “We are trying to figure out these aspects such as lighting, staging on an actual stage, and projection with masks.”

Scerbo shared that, according to COVID-19 safety protocols, “The social distance seating set up would have a maximum number of 200 people allowed in the audience.”

Jacobs expressed her appreciation along with the other directors and said, “It’s been so amazing to work with this cast – they’re the heart – it was really a team effort- just like coming out of the pandemic and how energizing it is to have something where students are passionate. We’re creating this piece together because of our love of theater.”

Dates of performances are Dec. 17 and Dec.18 at 7 p.m. with the box office opening at 6 p.m. The rain date is Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. with the box office opening at 3 p.m.

Tickets are sold at the door. Call for ticket reservations at 552-1590, or email at boxoffice@pvpa.org, or Eventbrite.comboxoffice

Ticket Prices are $10 for general admission, $7 for military and seniors, alumni tickets are $5 and student tickets are $3. For more information, please visit http://www.pvpa.org/node/450

Masks will be required for all audience members until further notice.