&gt;&gt;&gt; MANY OF US HAVE LEARNED TO
PULL OFF SCHOOL, A BUSINESS
MEETING OR A FAMILY GET-TOGETHER
OVER ZOOM.
HOW DO YOU DO SHAKESPEARE THAT
WAY?
ONE EXCEPTIONAL THEATER COMPANY
IS ABOUT TO SHOW YOU.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: IN A WORLD THAT CAN
FEEL LIKE IT HAS THE MAKINGS OF
A SHAKESPEARE PLAY --
&gt;&gt; I THINK WE'RE IN THE DARKEST
TIME OF RECENT WORLD HISTORY
BETWEEN COVID AND THE UNREST.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: THIS SHOW IS GOING
ON.
&gt;&gt; SPLIT MY POOR TONGUE IN SEVEN
SHORT YEARS.
&gt;&gt; WE DECIDED NOT TO QUIT.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE AN IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: MORE THAN A DECADE
AGO, THEY FOUNDED INNER CITY
SHAKESPEARE TO GIVE AN
UNDERSERVED POPULATION ACCESS TO
THE ARTS.
&gt;&gt; IF YOU DON'T HOOK KIDS ON
SOMETHING GOOD, SOMEBODY WILL
HOOK THEM ON SOMETHING BAD.
THEY NEED TO BELONG TO SOMEBODY.
&gt;&gt; I DO.
&gt;&gt; EVERY KID GETS A COSTUME.
WE MAY HAVE 40 FAIRIES, BUT
EVERY KID GETS A COSTUME.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: THEN CAME COVID-19,
TWO WEEKS INTO REHEARSALS.
WHILE PARTING CAN BE SUCH SWEET
SORROW, SHE KNEW KEEPING HER
CAST TOGETHER WAS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER.
SO ZOOM BECAME THEIR STAGE.
DID YOU THINK WHEN THE PANDEMIC
FIRST STARTED THAT YOU WOULD BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE AND DO THIS
OVER ZOOM?
&gt;&gt; NO.
BUT I TRUSTED THEM WHEN THEY
TOLD US WE COULD.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: NOT EVERYONE STAYED
IN LOS ANGELES.
THEY SHIPPED PROPS AND COSTUMES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND MADE DUE.
&gt;&gt; ZOOM IS INTERESTING.
YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL BACKGROUND.
YOU HAVE AN ACTOR IN FRONT OF
IT.
IF YOU MOVE REALLY FAST, YOUR
HANDS DISAPPEAR.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: THERE WERE OTHER
CHALLENGES.
HOW COULD ROMEO AND JULIETTE
SHARE A SOCIALLY DISTANCED KISS?
&gt;&gt; HARDER THAN IF HAD YYOU HAD
IN PERSON?
&gt;&gt; A LOT MORE DIFFICULT.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: THEIR NEED FOR
CONNECTION IS GREATER THAN EVER.
&gt;&gt; I HAVE PEOPLE TO TALK TO.
I HAVE THINGS TO WORK TOWARDS.
I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.
THAT IS HONESTLY ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS THAT YOU CAN GET DURING
THESE TIMES.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: THIS MAN LOST HIS
GRANDFATHER.
WHAT DOES THIS GROUP GIVE YOU
THROUGH KIND OF PERSONAL STRIFE?
&gt;&gt; THIS GROUP WAS MY FAMILY AND
STILL IS MY FAMILY.
EVERYBODY IN THE GROUP IS THERE
FOR ME.
&gt;&gt; Reporter: THROUGH PANDEMIC
AND PROTESTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS ABOUT THE PROGRAM HAVEN'T
CHANGED.
&gt;&gt; THIS GIVES THEM A SENSE OF
SELF-ESTEEM AND IT MAKES PEOPLE
REALIZE THEY DESERVE THE SAME AS
EVERYBODY ELSE.
&gt;&gt; WHERE IS ROMEO?
&gt;&gt; Reporter: A LOVE STORY THAT
WOULD MAKE EVEN SHAKESPEARE
