Oklahoma Shakespeare Says The Show Must Go On

Whereas many companies are beginning to bounce again from COVID-19, an area nonprofit mentioned they’re nonetheless struggling. 

COVID-19 is taking middle stage at Oklahoma Shakespeare. 

“You must have drama. You may’t get away with out drama,” Tyler Woods, Oklahoma Shakespeare government producer mentioned. 

Tyler Woods mentioned COVID-19 sadly has been a principal character in a lot of their productions and theater generally. 

“We simply did Hamlet in our out of doors theater and that was a present that was additionally canceled because of COVID. We had six out of ten performances as a result of 5 of our solid members got here down with COVID,” Woods mentioned. 

Blithe Spirit is underway at Oklahoma Shakespeare, the primary indoor manufacturing since COVID-19. 

“It is a comedy a couple of gentleman whose spouse handed away, he bought remarried, his deceased spouse comes again to hang-out his life and chaos ensues, comedy ensues,” Woods mentioned. 

It’s a manufacturing the place COVID continues to play the antagonist haunting the solid. Regardless of taking security precautions like frequent COVID testing, COVID is impacting their employees as soon as once more. Creative Director Lance Marsh pitching in. 

“The corporate thought, ‘Effectively you have been within the room for 3 weeks and also you’re an expert actor too, so carry the script and go on Lance,” Marsh mentioned. 

“We are able to not afford it, I’m simply going to place the playing cards on the desk, we are able to not afford to cancel reveals,” Woods mentioned. 

Oklahoma Shakespeare is a nonprofit. 

“A field workplace solely pays for act one principally,” Woods mentioned. 

Woods mentioned they survive off of donations, and so they not too long ago began promoting native artwork and alcohol to carry folks in. He mentioned they’re leaning into the chaos encouraging people to return out to see them overcome adversity 

“We’re dwelling in very attention-grabbing occasions so we should always create very attention-grabbing artwork,” Marsh mentioned. 

Blithe Spirit is underway proper now and ends November fifth. If you wish to be taught extra about the way to see the play, click on right here.