2020 marks the second year of the Third Mask Festival at Columbia College Chicago. Students in the Events Management Practicum: Festivals course receive hands-on experience as they put together this devised theatre festival. We talked to Business and Entrepreneurship undergraduate Megan VanDamme about the changes coming to this year’s festival and what we can expect and look forward to.

What is the Third Mask Festival?

The Third Mask Festival is a collaboration of Columbia College Chicago students from both the Theatre Department and the Department of Business & Entrepreneurship. This festival seeks to promote ensemble- based devised performance that decenters traditional script-first models of theatre making. We do this by showcasing thesis projects, discussion panels, and new/developing works of devised performance by the current MFA cohort and alumni of the European Devised Performance Practice (EDPP) program.

How is the Events Management Practicum class involved in the Third Mask Festival?

The Events Management Practicum class is involved hands-on in the coordination of the Third Mask Festival. We work together and are all active members of the Festival Team, in one of the following areas: Marketing/Design, Budget/Sponsorship/Fundraising, or Production Management.

How is the Third Mask Festival changing this year due to the novel coronavirus?

This year, due to the novel coronavirus, the Third Mask Festival is changing things up by partnering with Columbia College Chicago’s Manifest Urban Arts Festival. We’re working together to transform the usual in-person experience into a week-long interactive digital festival.

We will still be embodying our festival theme:

“There are Three Masks:
The one we think we are,
The one we really are,
And the one we have in common.”

-Jacques Lecoq

What are you most excited about in terms of putting on an online festival?

One of the things I’m most excited about in terms of putting on an online festival is to be able to observe the festival as a whole, along with the incredible work our current MFA cohorts and alumni have been developing throughout the past few months. I think during this time especially it will be nice for the community to step away from the day to day worries and to be able to come together and promote, support, and celebrate the live events and showcases.

Where can people find more information?

People can find more information at thirdmaskfestival.com

Additionally, they can follow us on our social platforms: @thethirdmaskfestival on Instagram and The Third Mask on Facebook.