“Joseph and the Wonderful Technicolor Dreamcoat” was being staged by way of July 16 at Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick, with Jordan Alexander, at left, as Joseph and Jeff Max enjoying Pharaoh. The manufacturing has halted resulting from an outbreak of COVID-19 among the many solid. Contributed / Jared Morneau Images
After a slew of sold-out reveals on the Maine State Music Theater in Brunswick, “Joseph and the Wonderful Technicolor Dreamcoat” was compelled to finish its run every week early after 5 solid members examined constructive for COVID-19, inflicting a monetary blow to the theater firm.
By no means opening in 2020 and canceling mid-season in 2021, Maine State Music Theater opened for its 2022 season on June 8 with hopes of avoiding COVID closures.
“This can be a devastating lack of income,” Maine State Music Theater Creative Director Kurt Dale Clark mentioned.
Clark declined to touch upon the precise greenback quantity the theater expects to lose.
Whereas the Middle for Illness Management and Prevention reported low ranges of COVID in southern Maine on their web site, the Actors’ Fairness Union has strict guidelines to stop outbreaks and can shut any present with too many constructive circumstances within the solid, in line with Clark.
Clark mentioned all workers are given a COVID check every day, costing the theater $120,000 in testing provides for the season. He mentioned many of the contaminated performers didn’t present any signs apart from a runny nostril.
The neighborhood COVID tracker on the CDC’s federal web site reported a weekly common of 113.56 circumstances of COVID per 100,000 individuals in Cumberland County and 136.66 in Sagadahoc County, leaving Clark unconcerned about mandating masks for audiences. He doesn’t consider the viewers will transmit the virus to the performers.
“We is not going to return to a masks mandate for the viewers as a result of it has nothing to do with what’s going on right here,” mentioned Clark.
In response to the Actors’ Fairness web site, “The Employer is not going to require or request any in-person interplay between Actors or Stage Managers and patrons. No guests can be allowed backstage, and the Employer shall submit signage backstage to that impact.”
Even with testing every day, Clark mentioned he can’t management what his workers do outdoors of the theater. He mentioned with 24 solid members working in shut proximity throughout dance numbers and in altering rooms, it was sure to occur.
He mentioned the theater has many loyal subscribers however worries that non-subscribers who solely come to a couple reveals a 12 months gained’t return after this.
“Each time you cancel your present, you injury your relationship with the viewers,” mentioned Clark.
For individuals who bought tickets for canceled performances of “Joseph and the Wonderful Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Maine State is giving patrons one in every of 5 choices. Clark mentioned patrons could trade their ticket for an additional present this season, donate the worth of their ticket to the theater, acquire entry to a digital efficiency of the present, obtain retailer credit score for a present in a future Maine State season, or request a refund.
“It actually breaks my coronary heart,” Clark mentioned. “Our purpose was to have Joseph proceed to remind individuals why they want us and need us.”
Clark mentioned the primary present of the season “The Sound of Music” had just a few solid members check constructive for COVID, however not sufficient to shut down the present. He mentioned they labored by way of it with the assistance of understudies and swing performers.
The third present of the season “The Colour Purple” continues to be in rehearsals and can premiere on July 20, as deliberate.
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