Make a Black Box At Home

MAKE A BLACK BOX AT HOME

Live performing arts face an uncertain future in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

To keep his performances alive and available for audiences, Dan Bernitt built a black box theater in his living room—ready for live-streaming.

Learn how to build a virtual performance space in your home.

Meet Dan and learn what’s behind creating a black box theater in his living room.

What You Can Learn

When thinking about livestreaming, you have two tools to work with:
what people see and what people hear.

Dan Bernitt can guide you through an assortment of tools you can use to create a professional-looking livestream for all budget sizes.

While Dan primarily uses a Mac, many of the same solutions are available in Windows.

Broadcasting with free, open-source livestreaming software
Streaming with a range of devices—from DSLRs and camcorders to webcams and an iPhone
Getting excellent sound quality
Setting up lighting equipment and curtains
Automating cues so you can focus on your performance, not the technology
And more (because every question you have is a puzzle we can solve together)

Who is Dan Bernitt?

Dan Bernitt is an award-winning playwright, performer, and teaching artist.

Hailed as “one of America’s next great monologists,” he’s been performing and touring his work in venues across the United States since 2004. He’s also performed internationally in Ireland and Italy.

A recipient of the Robert Chesley Award for Lesbian and Gay Playwriting, his books, Dose: Plays & Monologues and Phi Alpha Gamma, were named finalists for the Lambda Literary Award. He’s also been awarded grants and fellowships and served on panels for state arts agencies.

He holds an MFA in Playwriting from The New School and a BA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Regularly a guest teaching artist at colleges and universities, he also serves as chair of the creative writing program at the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts.

What MORE STUDENTS SAY AFTER WORKING WITH DAN BERNITT

You encouraged me to find my voice in a way that I had never imagined. Your prompts and speeches led me to new edges I didn’t know existed for myself, and I’m glad to say that I have confidence in tackling them after working with you.

Dan let me see that even if I’m writing about a topic people would turn away from or would hate me for it that it was okay to write it. He let me know that I can write about my culture even when most people would shut me out and ignore the words that I had written. He encouraged me to write more about it and let the world know that I cannot silence my voice.

Dan was honest and encouraged all of us to open up and be honest with ourselves and in our writing. This helped not only our art, but also our mindsets.

Dan broke down walls we didn’t even know we had, got us to feel strong emotions, and then channeled those emotions into our writing. He taught us how to dig deep within ourselves so that our audience can feel what we feel.

Programs Available For Your Campus

Now booking for the 2020-2021 academic year

Individual Performance

Present one performance of Phi Alpha Gamma, and, immediately following the play, Dan Bernitt or a member of your community will facilitate an audience Q&A and discussion

Performances + Workshops

Hosting multiple performances and adding workshops or class visits help to more deeply integrate the play and Dan Bernitt's visit to your campus. Using theater and writing workshops, your students will broaden their worldview by exploring themselves and different perspectives

Artist Residency

For the greatest impact on your campus community, combine Dan Bernitt's solo performances Phi Alpha Gamma and Yelling at Bananas in Whole Foods with a writing and performance workshop for your students to generate a deeper discussion over several days

BEST VALUE