Amid COVID-19: Theater groups launch online classes and workshops to help artists through temporary loss of jobs

Theater arts groups have started Open House, an online fundraising project to help fellow artists who've temporarily lost their jobs due to the enhanced community quarantine amid COVID-19 threat.

In a statement, PhilStage said Open House will stream live online classes, shows, and workshops with viewers encouraged to donate through a "ticketing" system. 

In its ticket2me.net page, tickets start at P300 and go all the way to P5,000.

Proceeds will go directly to "to production workers like dressers, stage managers, lighting and sound technicians, stagehands, musicians, and more through the Artists Welfare Project."

"Every P2,000 donation to Open House will go a long way in supporting a displaced worker in the performing arts community and his or her family for one month during the Enhanced Community Quarantine," the statement read.

Check out the schedule of the shows below:

Meanwhile on Open House Facebook page, programs and workshops are set to happen from April 2 to 8. See them below:

• Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s ballet barre class
• Storytelling for kids with actresses Melody Remorca and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, SPIT’s COVID-Chismis show
• Theater ATBP quiz night with Reb Atadero and Tanya Manalang
• A voice class by Karla Gutierrez of the Philippine Opera Company
• The launch of Philstage Roundtables featuring an all-female lineup of theater directors: theater first lady Menchu Lauchengco – Yulo, Red Turnip Theater’s Jenny Jamora, Rak of Aegis director Maribel Legarda, Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Missy Maramara, and University of the Philippines’ Jose Estrella, as moderated by ANC’s Lexi Schulze

If you want to know more about their upcoming shows you can visit their Facebook page. For donations, you can go to Ticket2Me.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole Luzon on enhanced community quarantine on March 17. It is expected to last until April 13.

According to the guidelines, "mass gatherings such as movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work-related gatherings shall be prohibited." — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News