Important Information and Latest Updates Concerning Coronavirus and Theatre in the Valley

by Gil Benbrook

(UPDATED as of March 16 at 2:30pm)

As national and local concern over the current spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) grows, many Valley theatres and arts centers have sent out information concerning the steps they are taking to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of their patrons, staff and actors as well as information on cancellations or postponements of currently running, or about to open, productions and concerts.

As of Sunday, March 15, per recommendation from the Governor of Arizona and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mass gatherings of 50+ people should be cancelled. Schools in the state are also closed through March 27.

The theatre companies listed below have notified their patrons concerning cancellations and postponements (this list will be updated as more information is received):

For anyone who has purchased tickets to a cancelled show, we hope that you will consider donating the cost of your cancelled tickets to the theatre. This kind of community support could build and make a huge difference in off setting the loss that comes with a show postponement or cancellation.

Acting Zone - Their upcoming production of Cinderella will now open on April 3 instead of March 27

Actor's Youth Theatre - all classes, rehearsals and performances suspended until at laeast March 27

*Arizona Broadway Theatre - Chicago – On hiatus through Tuesday, March 31 (new dates into May TBA); La Cage aux Folles at Herberger Theater Center – Cancelled; Mirage: Visions of Fleetwood Mac – ABT Concert Series – Monday, March 16 – Cancelled; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Postponed (future dates TBA); Moody Blues – Go Now! – ABT Concert Series – Monday, March 23 – Cancelled; After Dark Cabaret – Friday, March 27 – Cancelled; Sunday Brunch at the Encore – Sunday, March 29 – Cancelled; Piano Men – Generations – ABT Concert Series – Monday, March 30 – Cancelled More information will be forthcoming for future performances. Food preparation areas and staff are all working at the highest levels of sanitation standards and members of ABT's food and beverage staff are wearing gloves to handle food, utensils, plates, and glasses. If you are feeling ill, please contact the Box Office at 623.776.8400 x0 to reschedule your performance. Exchange fees will be waived for those who are sick or those who choose to stay home as a precaution.

*Arizona Theatre Company - The final show of their season, Women In Jeopardy! will move to the first show of the 2020/2021 season and will play in tandem with the previously announced My 80 Year Old Boyfriend. The Legend of Georgia McBride will come back and be the first show in the 2021/2022 season. The education program “Summer on Stage” will return in 2021.

ASU Music Theatre and Opera - all remaining Music Theatre and Opera events for this semester have been canceled or postponed, including their production of 9 to 5, the Music Theatre Showcase at The Phoenix Theatre Company, and the Opera Gala. They are currently discussing the possibility of incorporating their production of 9 to 5 into next season, and rescheduling the Music Theatre showcase for some point in the future. The Opera Gala will not be rescheduled.

BLK BOX PHX - their production of Red has been postponed - more information will be forthcoming

Brelby Theatre Company - will be dark through March. More information will be forthcoming concerning any impact on performances of Shakespeare in Love in April

Broadway at the Orpheum - the tour of The Illusionists, which was set to play March 27-29, has been postponed. Once a new date is confirmed ticket holders will be contacted.

Childsplay - they have cancelled Spring Academy classes and Suzette Who Set To Sea field trips and weekend performances. They will continue to plan for Summer Academy classes as normal.

*Desert Foothills Theater - Performances of Steel Magnolias are being postponed to a future date, in lieu of the refund, Please consider donating your ticket purchase or having us credit toward a future show. Godspell auditions are tonight, callbacks tomorrow and preparing to open May 8. They are continuing to monitor all health advisories and act in accordance with all public health recommendations. They have also been in contact with Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center to ensure they have implemented additional disinfection practices. If you are feeling ill please contact the box office 480.488.1981 and they will exchange your ticket at no additional cost.

East Valley Youth Theatre - all classes and troupes through March 30 have been suspended

*Fountain Hills Theater - All performances have been either cancelled or postponed effective March 16.Two events are still scheduled and pending, auditions for "Les Miserables" & "Suds-The 60's Musical." Both are set to open in May. FOOTLIGHT FRENZY: All remaining performances will be CANCELLED; WHOWHATWHENWHYHOW!: FHYT production scheduled to open March 27th will be CANCELLED; T.A. BURROWS IN CONCERT: Scheduled for April 5th- POSTPONED - new date TBA; MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET: scheduled to open April 17th – POSTPONED- tentatively rescheduled to open on June 5th, 2020 (rights pending); A CELEBRATION OF THE YOUTH SEASON GALA: scheduled for April 18th- POSTPONED - new date TBA; ALEX GONZALEZ VEGAS REVISITED: Scheduled for April 19th- POSTPONED - new date May 10th; SUDS THE 60's MUSICAL: Scheduled to open May 8th - no changes at this time; LES MISERABLES SCHOOL EDITION: FHYT production scheduled to open May 29th will be re-scheduled to open earlier than originally planned, on May 1, 2020 (rights pending/if the theater re-opens as planned)If you wish to change your tickets to another performance, please call the box office at 480.837.9661 and they will be happy to help you.

Ghostlight Theatre - Their production of Art now opens on May 14

Grand Canyon University - Due to classes being cancelled on campus and moved online, their production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which was scheduled to run March 20-29, has been cancelled

Greasepaint Youth Theatre - performances of 13 will continue through Sunday, March 15. Starting on Monday, March 16, Greasepaint will go “dark” with operations for a short period of time. Their fundraising gala, scheduled for March 28, will be postponed to May, with more information coming as they assess the situation during the next week. Their production of Beauty and the Beast will be moved to the 20/21 season

*Hale Centre Theatre - Hale Centre Theatre will be suspending performances until further notice in the interest of public health and safety. Performances of Guys and Dolls and Always Patsy Cline have been cancelled as of March 16. Performances of Brigadoon , which was set to open on March have also been cancelled as well. Email boxoffice@haletheatrearizona.com if you wish to change your tickets to another performance and they will be happy to help you.

iTheatre Collaborative - performances of I'll Eat You Last, which was scheduled to open on March 27 has been postponed to September

Laughing Pig Theatre - their production of Shopping and F***ing, and all our productions, are postponed until further notice. They are working with their team to determine future dates and once we have those we will post them. They will be issuing refunds to anyone who has purchased tickets. Anyone taking classes at Laughing Pig's home space, the Mesa Arts Center, will also be postponed, with the plan start of MAC classes being on or after April 13.

Mesa Community College - Due to classes being cancelled on campus, Kiss Me Kate, which was scheduled to run March 27-April 4, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, set to play April 17-25, have both been cancelled

Mesa Encore Theatre - final performances of Shrek at Mesa Arts Center this weekend are continuing as scheduled through March 15. Their productions of Robin Hood and Reefer Madness have been cancelled

Paradise Valley Community College - their production of The Curious Savage has been cancelled

Phoenix Symphony - the following performances at Symphony Hall have been cancelled: Disney in Concert – March 13, 14 & 15; Debussy, Ravel and Prokofiev – March 21 March 22.

*Phoenix Theatre - All remaining performances of Sondheim on Sondheim have been cancelled.
Something Rotten! has been postponed, and is now scheduled to begin performances on Wednesday, May 13; The Rocky Horror Show will be postponed, with a scheduled first performance date of Wednesday, May 13; HAIR will now be scheduled to start Wednesday, July 8. If you purchased tickets for any of these productions, or are season ticket holders, the box office will be contacting you with your options.

*Pinnacle Creative Arts - performances of Clue are postponed - new dated TBD.

*Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre - Performances of Jake's Women postponed until at least April 3. Steel Magnolias and Bell, Book and Candle are performing as scheduled. Performances of High School Musical Jr. and A Chorus Line and remaining DST Mainstage, Youth, Teen productions, and Center Stage classes have also been postponed until further notice. More information will be forthcoming. If you are feeling ill we ask that you please stay home and contact the box office via telephone at 480.483.1664 or by emailing boxoffice@desertstages.org in order to reschedule your attendance date.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - the following events/shows have been cancelled: Scottsdale Arts Festival, March 13–15; Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, March 13; SMoCA: Through the Decades Trivia, Mar. 14.  The following performances have been cancelled due to the Federal Travel Ban, as these acts would have been traveling from Europe: Spanish Brass with Chano Domínguez and José Moreno, March 20 and Paris! The Show, March 21. Ticket holders should call the box office for further information

Southwest Shakespeare Company - Performances of this season's final production of Hudson, scheduled for April 9-25, has been postponed until October of 2020.

Space 55 - remaining performances of Night of the Chicken this weekend have been cancelled. Anyone who purchased tickets will be issued a refund.

*Spotlight Youth Theatre - Performances of The Wolves and Charlotte's Web have been postponed. New dated TBA. The spring break camp: Snow White and the Eight Dwarfs and their performance troupes: Sparkles, Confetti, Celebration have been suspended at this time.

*Stage Left Productions -  All performances through May 4 have been cancelled or postponed. All My Sons-Postponed to August 14-22nd; Goldilocks On Trial-Postponed until May performance dates TBD  (Rehearsals are postponed until April) Director Amber Ryan will reaching out to the casts; The Dinner Party-Postponed to September 18-October 10; Youth Summer Camp Play"Right" @ Stage "Left" is still schedule as planned June 15-27 2020; Clue On Stage Youth Production is still scheduled as planned June 11-14; Snow White Variety Hour Youth Production is still scheduled as planned in July; Eleemosynary- Still scheduled as planned July 24-August 1st; Red Speedo-Cancelled for 2020 will be moved to 2021; Long Day's Journey Into Night- Cancelled for 2020 may or may not be moved to 2021. If you purchased tickets for any of these productions, or are season ticket holders, the box office will be contacting you with your options.

Starlight Community Theater - Radium Girls - postponed, dates to be announced; Charlotte's Web - potentially postponed, we will continue to monitor and make further announcements; Rock of Ages- currently as scheduled

*TheaterWorks - All performances of Rexe's Exes and Pump Boys and Dinettes have been postponed, and their Broadway Senior program has been cancelled. Their Gala, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, has been cancelled and moved to an online auction - available HERE

Theatre Artists Studio - their production of Pound, which was scheduled to open today, has been temporarily postponed. The Studio does not intend to cancel the production and ticket buyers have already been contacted about the postponement. As soon as a decision is made about when performances will be rescheduled we will post that information on PHX Stages and our social media accounts.

Valley Youth Theatre - They are proactively cancelling their Spring Break Camp and their upcoming production of Dear Edwina. They will continue monitoring the situation and will communicate the status of other upcoming productions and programs by Monday, March 23, 2020. For anyone registered for the Spring Break Camp or if you have already purchased tickets to Dear Edwina, you have three options: Donate all or part of your registration fee or ticket price to YYT, allowing them to compensate their teaching artists and continue serving our community, once this crisis has passed; Request a credit for future VYT education programs or productions; or Request a refund which will be processed next week.

Zao Theatre - their upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors, which was set to open on April 24 - has been postponed.

The theatre companies listed above* previously announced they were closely monitoring the COVID-19 updates with the CDC and the Arizona Department of Health Services and had taken the following steps to help control the spread of the virus before performances were cancelled or postponed:

Increased their disinfection practices for the safety of patrons with most specifically indicating they are cleaning and disinfecting high traffic areas, such as lobbies and bathrooms, and high touch areas, such as door handles, armrests and railings, several times a day.

Have hand sanitizer located in the lobby with some also having tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles located throughout our facilities.

Theatres that normally have the tradition of having a meet and greet with the actors after the show have indicated they have been temporarily suspended.

Suggested guidelines from the CDC to protect yourself from respiratory infections:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. 
• Please stay home if you are feeling ill. This is of paramount importance.    
• Always cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or tissue.
• Throw tissue away immediately after use
• For more information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

This article will be updated with new information as it's received.