A heavyweight is about to wade into the fight to bring some creativity and some uplift to this time of isolation: The Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Friday the ASF opens a full slate of virtual programming under the banner “Play On!”, describing it as something to fill the coronavirus “intermission.”

Elements of “Play On!” include actors sharing their favorite Shakespeare monologues and anecdotes of their stage experience; monologues on the theme “home” from 22 Southern playwrights; and online workshops “for kids, teens and adults in building characters, crafting plays and honing audition techniques.”

In an introductory video, ASF Artistic Director Rick Dildine said that the coronavirus shutdown has hit the state’s theatre hard, forcing it to postpone or cancel current and future presentations and other activities. “Our artists have stepped up,” Dildine said. “They’ve done some incredible projects that we’ll be sharing with you in the coming weeks.”

“Right now many of us have been turning to music, or reading, writing, maybe watching Netflix or watching a play online,” Dildine said. “There are artists behind every one of those things. Right now we are turning to artists in these dark moments. And when we get through it, we have to make sure there’s a place that those artists and their audiences can gather again.”

Dildine said he hopes viewers will see the value in what ASF is doing and help support it in return.

“We believe that the Alabama Shakespeare Festival is an important institution that Alabama needs, that the country needs, our students need, our artists need and we need your support,” he said. “Small gifts, large gifts, really any gift of any size to sustain our operation so that we can be here when this is done.”

“Play On!” materials will be available starting on Friday, April 10, via ASF’s social media channels and ASF.net/PlayOn.