This week marks one month since COVID-19 caused us to temporarily close our doors for the safety and well-being of all. These times are uncertain, and this virus is unprecedented, but we will prevail. During this time away, we’ve realized two things – we miss you and we miss sharing great theatre with our community! Since it has been so long since we were last together, we wanted to share what we’ve been doing, our plans to move forward, how you can help, and how to stay in touch.
Our Drive to Move Forward
Many of you have asked questions about what the future holds, so we wanted to share what we know and how we’ve continued moving forward, all while complying with stay-at-home orders.
ZOOM is the New Normal
While we can’t be inside the theatre, that hasn’t stopped our amazing teachers and directors from continuing with rehearsals via ZOOM. Many homes are filled with music and laughter as our Academy students are rehearsing lines and music from our current productions of Disney’s Aladdin, Jr., Into the Woods, and Almost, Maine. We can’t wait for these productions to finally hit the Fischer Studio when we get the green light from the CDC.
The same is true for our Main Stage production of Monty Python’s Spamalot. Last week, the team had their first rehearsal, and it’s the medicine everyone needed. The emotions were strong seeing everyone again, even if it was through a computer screen. But most importantly, this Spamalot crew brought lots of laughs that we hope to share with you soon.
Supporting the Community, While the Community Supports Stageworks!
With our productions on hold, our costuming crew has banded together on a new task – making masks! For a limited time, this creative team gathered every piece of fabric, elastic, lining, and ribbon to make masks for our Stageworks family. All we asked was for a donation made to the theatre in any amount. See our recent blog post for additional information about this great community effort.
Taking Advantage of Available Government Programs
Our board of directors is working tirelessly and evaluating all the available options made available for small businesses and non-profits, including the new CARE Act. Unfortunately, we won’t know if Stageworks is eligible and will receive funds for some time, but we did everything we could to make sure we were one of the first in the door. Our dedicated board treasurer even spent hours speaking with a CARE Act representative to ensure all our i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed.
What’s Next at Stageworks
We can’t wait to see everyone again, even if it requires us to be together in smaller groups. Soon we’ll be releasing information about upcoming plans and items, including:
Plans for the remaining 2019-2020 Main Stage season
Our announcement of the new 2020-2021 Main Stage season
Summer camps and classes for the Acting Academy
Strategies to keep Stageworks a safe, clean environment
Stay tuned!
How You Can Help
We recognize that these are uncertain times, and many of our Stageworks patrons and families have been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we also have been tremendously impacted by our temporary closure. While our revenue has ceased, our overhead costs continue. Our curtain will rise again, but we could use your support. Any donation size helps; however, recurring donations are the key to our ongoing vitality. Click here to learn more about how you can support Stageworks Theatre.
Stay in Touch!
Once again, we miss you and we miss sharing great theatre productions with our community! While we can’t be together, that doesn’t stop us from sharing some incredible memories. Be sure to join our Main Stage and Acting Academy Facebook pages, as we will be sharing great information and memories from our productions. You may even get fun messages from current cast members from our Main Stage and Academy productions.
Stay strong, stay healthy, and we’ll be back together soon. And don’t forget – wash your hands!
Patrick Barton, President of the Stageworks Theatre Board of Directors
