Theaters Across the U.S. Are Losing Hope For a 2020 Return

By: May. 24, 2020
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A new report from the New York Times shows that many theaters across the U.S. are beginning to lose hope of returning to the stage before the year is out.

Steppenwolf Theater Company artistic director Anna D. Shapiro said she believes 2020 is "gone." "I'll be stunned if we're back in the theater," she said.

The same thought process extends to professional companies across the countries, including the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Charleston Stage in South Carolina, Pioneer Theater Company in Utah, and Berkeley Repertory Theater in California.

Chris Coleman, artistic director of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts says they won't have programming this fall either. Henry Timms, president of Lincoln Center, is hoping to present performances outdoors before moving back to their indoor stages, while Deborah F. Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center in Washington, says that the company is considering bringing artists in to small indoor venues, that would be separated by glass from audiences outdoors.

Read the original story on the New York Times.

Broadway, of course, remains suspended through Labor Day. But many believe that it is more than likely a return won't happen until 2021.

BroadwayWorld's Richie Ridge recently chatted with Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin, who is looking optimistically toward the future.

"Everybody is working positively towards getting [Broadway] back open," she said. "I am a fortunate person to get to experience that optimism. Certainly there is fear; certainly people are losing a fortune, but they will somehow find a way to get back."

Watch the full interview here.



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