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11/19/2020 |
Member News |
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Pit & Balcony Community Theatre Responds to Spike in Covid-19 Cases; Announces Production Changes |
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After 7 months closed to the public, Pit & Balcony was elated to open their doors again
on November 3rd this year. Just two weeks later, following a Michigan Department of Health and Human
Services Epidemic Order which closes entertainment venues, Saginaw’s community theatre is closing its
doors again.
“It’s really very frustrating,” says Amy Spadafore, Managing Director. “The one thing that we need is the
ability for our community to gather together and that is the one thing that is completely unsafe to do right
now. The orders and guidelines which kept everyone safe for seven months and helped our community
reach a point where arts organizations like Pit & Balcony could reopen have been revoked with no
replacement. We need the community to come together again to flatten the curve and we need federal, state,
and local Leadership to step up and provide us with support and resources to do so.”
Over the weekend, Pit & Balcony presented their first ever virtual production and would be moving quickly
into the final weeks of rehearsal for their December production of The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Ginna
Hoben. Unfortunately, the MDHHS order prohibits the types of gatherings which are required for rehearsals
so Pit & Balcony has made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the production in its entirety.
Spadafore met virtually with the cast and production team Monday night to break the news to them.
“I told them, ‘I hate having this meeting. This is the third time I’ve had to do this and it doesn’t get easier.
But it is the right thing to do.’ Having to tell a group of eager and talented volunteers who have been
working so hard to provide a sense of relief and source of revelry to their community that all their efforts
are for naught is disheartening to say the least.”
There is a silver lining, however. Pit & Balcony will be presenting Sounding Joy: A Virtual Cabaret
December 11-13 this year. This entirely virtual production will feature performers from all over the country
who have graced the Pit & Balcony stage at one time or another. The event will be reminiscent of holiday
TV specials and will be presented free to the public (with suggested donation).
“We refuse to give up,” Spadafore says. “We have a responsibility and have made a commitment to our
community to provide whatever sense of hope, peace, or normalcy we can during these times. The world
needs art now more than ever and, come Hell or high water, we are going to give it to them.”
About Pit & Balcony
Pit & Balcony Theatre is one of the oldest community theatres in the country, and its mission is to create a
dynamic community theatre that engages audiences and artists in enriching performing arts experiences.
For a complete list of upcoming performances, dates, and times, visit www.pitandbalconytheatre.com.
Pit & Balcony has remained nimble in the face of change throughout the coronavirus crisis this year.
Decisions regarding the remainder of the season will be made on a show-by show basis with the best
interests of the community in mind. The titles, dates, and formats of the remaining productions are subject
to change and every effort will be made to produce to the broadest audience possible.
Pit & Balcony’s staff will be working remotely until at least December 9th
Office hours are 12:00pm5:00pm Tuesday-Thursday. Patrons with tickets to the upcoming production will be contacted personally
to review their options. If you would like to support Pit & Balcony at this time, please consider purchasing
a gift certificate or making a donation at www.pitandbalconytheatre.com or by calling 989.754.6587 or
emailing office@pitandbalcony.com.
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