HARTFORD STAGE
Based on recommendations from state and local government in response to the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19, Hartford Stage is canceling all remaining performances of Jane Eyre (March 12-14) and the run of The King’s Speech, scheduled for March 19 through April 19.
“The safety and health of our community, visiting artists, staff and volunteers always remains our first priority at Hartford Stage,” Managing Director Cynthia Rider said. “We know that communities are in need of our solidarity and support in these times and want to encourage neighbors and patrons to meet this crisis with compassion and care rather than fear and division.”
Rider added that the theatre will continue to closely monitor all updates and changing circumstances provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Should additional changes be made to upcoming performance schedules, visiting artists, ticket holders, staff, and volunteers will be notified as quickly as possible.
Tickets for Jane Eyre and The King’s Speech can be exchanged into performances of Ah, Wilderness! (May 7 – 31) or The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged) (June 11 – 21). All exchange fees will be waived. Alternatively, tickets can be donated back to Hartford Stage, a 501(c)(3) organization, as a tax-deductible contribution at a time of increased financial challenges for the performing arts industry.
Patience is asked for in anticipation of high call volume as the Hartford Stage Box Office staff works to reach out directly to all ticket holders. For quick access to information on ticket exchanges, visit http://hartfordstage.formstack.com/forms/cancellation.
YALE REPERTORY THEATRE
Following updated guidance from Yale University on Tuesday evening, March 10, in response to the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19, James Bundy, Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, has announced that the final two productions of the season, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Carl Cofield, and Testmatch by Kate Attwell, directed by Margot Bordelon, have been canceled.
While the University’s March 7 guidance––which states that groups of 100 or less are safe to continue provided there is ample room for individuals to spread out as they are comfortable––remains in effect, the additional new measures, currently in effect through April 5, seek to minimize close-proximity interaction among members of the Yale community.
As the professional theater in residence at Yale School of Drama, in a relationship analogous to that of a teaching hospital and a medical school, practical production work is the defining component of professional theater training at Yale. The new measures of mitigation, including the implementation of online instruction, are fundamentally incompatible with the physical work of making plays: on stage, backstage, in rehearsal rooms, shops, and lobby areas.
“It is absolutely heartbreaking that the company of A Raisin in the Sun, which has done some of the most remarkable work I have seen in my 18 years in this job, will not have the opportunity to perform Lorraine Hansberry’s majestic play for New Haven audiences this season. Likewise, it is painful to imagine what could have been, as the creative team and actors cast in Testmatch have been preparing for rehearsals to begin on Monday for Kate Attwell’s new play,” said James Bundy. “I have been enormously proud to witness the collaborations between leading artists in the field and School of Drama students which makes me even sadder that we are not able to present these plays to the thousands of audience members who already had tickets. These decisions were not made lightly, but we deem them necessary to support the University’s efforts to respond to the spread of COVID-19.”
Tickets for A Raisin in the Sun are already in the process of being refunded. The Audiences Services Department will also begin refunding all Testmatch ticket purchases immediately as well.
LONG WHARF
Like so many of you, Long Wharf Theatre has witnessed COVID-19 spread from an isolated outbreak to a distressing global pandemic. We recognize the growing concerns and have elected to discontinue our production of The Chinese Lady. We view the prospect of pressing forward as irresponsible and are committed to prioritizing the wellbeing of our community.
As a nonprofit arts organization, weighing whether to cancel performances has been a challenging experience—but your safety is our top priority. We will offer free ticket exchanges into our final show of the 2019/20 season, The Great Leap (May 6-31), or you may donate the value of your tickets back to Long Wharf Theatre as a tax-deductible donation. We would be so grateful if you would also consider making a charitable contribution to help us continue operating through this unprecedented crisis.
To contact the box office call 203-787-4282 or email boxoffice@longwharf.org
