“Witness” at the Hirschfield Film Festival: The Jewish Immigrant Experience as Virtual Reality Theater
“Witness” — the Feb. 25 installment of the Hirschfield International Film Series — presents an imaginative three-act theatrical interpretation of Jewish immigration throughout history. “Witness” is produced by the Arlekin theater company's new virtual theater program Zero Gravity (zero-G). Through the lab, “Witness” premiered on Zoom to a live audience that voted on their favorite musical numbers and performers throughout the performance. Interestingly, the cast, many of whom are Russian-Jewish immigrants themselves, performed the project in front of green screens. The project’s implementation of modern technological elements gives the topics at hand a timeless aura and communicates a necessary awareness of the global marginalization of the Jewish community.