Fort Myers actors move stage to their closet for virtual performances

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A Southwest Florida couple is helping keep the arts alive during the coronavirus pandemic. They’re offering you a 30-minute escape, thanks to Facebook.

Rachel and Brendan Powers are taking their craft from the big stage to a tiny theater.

This week, they should have been gearing up for eight shows at the Florida Repertory Theatre in downtown Fort Myers. Instead, they’re stuck inside like so many others.

“We just know ourselves well enough to know OK, we’re going to start spinning our wheels here pretty quickly, what can we do to keep ourselves occupied?” Rachel said.

“I’m going to give you the tour of the tiny closet, here we go. Ready? You’re going to see how sophisticated we are here at Tiny Theater in our house. This is our tripod; nice, right? It’s duct tape, a paint stirrer and a tripod that we can’t find the attachment piece for.”

With nothing more than a cell phone, a white curtain and some Christmas lights, the couple offers their Facebook Live audience an escape of sorts, just like they do in the theater.

“You have the capability to connect with each other in a way right now that 50 years ago, we wouldn’t be able to do that if we were in a global crisis like we are,” Rachel said.

Their performances will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.

“There’s so much concern and worry and uncertainty and fear, really, so if we can bring some levity and just help people to forget for 30 minutes, then that’s really good, that makes us really really happy.”

The Powers were going to perform “A Doll’s House, Part 2” at the Florida Rep this week, and you can now enjoy that show through a virtual stream.

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