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Live Theater by Jeanie K. Smith - April 2020

As noted in an earlier article (“Keep Calm But Cancel,” 3/13/20), all the live theatre productions I know of in our three counties have been cancelled until further notice. Some companies are postponing, if they can, usually until June; others will not be able to re-mount their cancelled shows; others may reschedule a show in their 2020-2021 season. A veritable avalanche has slammed down on the theatre community, closing venues for a month or more.

Those that can weather the loss of revenue will reopen when the crisis passes, although likely with slimmer budgets. I’m crossing fingers for our smaller creative outlets who often operate on shoestrings even in the best of times. Calls for donations are on every theater website now; do what you can to help out your favorite local venues.

Some theatre companies are managing to offer videos of either cancelled or past productions. The Left Edge Theatre in Santa Rosa, for example, is offering videotaped performances of both Drumming With Anubis, a big hit from last season, andThe Flick, the show they had to close after opening weekend, for small fees. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has a videotape of their closed hit show, They Promised Her the Moon, available for a basic ticket purchase. Check websites for details:https://www.theatreworks.org, https://www.leftedgetheatre.com

Other companies may not have the resources or legal permission to post videos — licensing typically doesn’t include video rights, that are often not available or expensive. So many variables — don’t hold it against the theater that isn’t providing a video option now.

Creativity is still alive and well — YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and other social platforms are suddenly teeming with new channels and links to videos showcasing singers, actors performing in their living rooms, improvisation sessions on Zoom. You can’t keep an artist down for long. Browsing some home-grown entertainment proves a thoroughly productive and enjoyable use of your SIP time.

And who knows what this rare experience might spawn, creatively speaking? Shakespeare, after all, wroteKing Lear,Macbeth, andAntony & Cleopatra when he was sidelined due to the plague. Inspiration plus “down time” can be potent and invigorating.

Here’s to staying safe, healthy, and sane during these challenging times. And here’s to renewed artistic vitality when all those doors reopen.

Cancelled Productions – As of 3/21/20

(in some cases, productions are postponed - check websites)

Sonoma, Napa & Marin Counties:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Lucky Penny Productions, Napa

Love - Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley

The Glass Menagerie - Ross Valley Players, Ross - everything cancelled untilThe Government Inspectoropens June 5

The Flick, Left Edge Theatre, Santa Rosa

The Cripple of Inishmaan, Santa Rosa Jr. College, Santa Rosa

Daddy Long Legs, Sonoma Arts Live, Sonoma

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - 6th Street Playhouse, Santa Rosa

Accidental Death of an Anarchist - Main Stage West, Sebastopol

The Addams Family Musical - Napa Valley College, Napa

Talley’s Folly - Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, Cloverdale

The Germans Upstairs - Raven Players, Healdsburg

The Beauty Queen of Leenane - Curtain Call, Monte Rio

The Who’s Tommy - Novato Theater Co., Novato

Rescheduled:

Mamma Mia! - Raven Players, Healdsburg - now June 19-July 5

Photos by vrs.

jksmith614@gmail.com

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