At the end of the spring 2020 semester, preliminary plans were being laid to stage one of Sam Mayer’s (M.F.A. in Playwriting candidate) scripts as part of UTNT (UT New Theatre), Part One in fall 2020. However, with the hopes of in-person theatre in the fall waning away, Mayer and director Mike Steele made a bold and brave choice to create a completely different work that was born from and lived through its virtual medium, rather than having to mold a theatrical production to a digital space. What resulted was eight weeks of experimentation and devising on the platform Twitch, leading to a retrospective, dramatic and cathartic virtual performance that examines the lives of real people when they are consciously performing in front of a screen.
For two months, Mayer has been streaming live on Twitch for five nights each week, interacting with chat members and exploring his streaming persona “poolboy00.” He and the poolboy00 team have been experimenting with the capabilities and possibilities that Twitch provides, inviting the audience to participate and help build each stream’s narrative. These connections have caused Mayer, as poolboy00, to examine old relationships and forge new ones in a time when connecting virtually is the safest option. Along the way, the pressures of forming friendships and portraying his life while performing in front of a live, virtual audience have caused drama, conflict, soul-searching and plenty of mischief. This extended study in connectivity, complete with music, lighting and imagery, will be presented in his upcoming streams as a part of the virtual presentation of UTNT (UT New Theatre), Part One.
Learn more about the experimental process of developing poolboy00, the decision to transfer to a performance presented primarily through Twitch and what to expect for this week’s streams in the interview below with poolboy00 himself, Sam Mayer. Then, experience the adventures and mayhem of poolboy00’s virtual world by tuning in on Thursday and Friday, November 5-6, 2020, for a two-part reunion where poolboy00 and his friends will unpack the past eight weeks of streaming, reliving their best and worst moments with the interactive chat. Then, join poolboy00 on Saturday, November 7 for an interactive watch party of the week’s shenanigans. The interactive audience helps to shape the story, so expect the unexpected and prepare to dive into the deep end of poolboy00.
Information about streaming performances is available here. Tickets are free and open to the public, but we encourage those who are able to lend their support of this and future Texas Theatre and Dance works (donations can be made here).