Pushing back against the tide of cancellation of most North Bay theatre, a handful of companies have opted to move forward with their productions.

 

Despite cancelling classes for the rest of the winter term, the curtain will apparently still go up on the College of Marin‘s well-received production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Closing weekend performances at the James Dunn Theatre on the Kentfield campus will be at 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 14 and 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 15.

*** UPDATE *** – The remaining performances of The Tempest have been canceled “due to health concerns concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).”

For folks bemoaning the closure of the Santa Rosa Junior College production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, Monte Rio’s Curtain Call Theatre has gone through with their opening of Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

From Curtain Call Artistic Director Michael Tabib:

“The World Health Organization suggests that in a gathering individuals consider sitting a meter apart. That’s about 1.5 seats. To this end, we are encouraging all patrons to be considerate of other patrons in each auditorium by not sitting immediately in front of, behind or next to other patrons. Please practice social distancing by leaving two seats to the left and right of you and the seat in front of another patron and the seat behind another patron empty.

We are voluntarily reducing our auditorium capacities to allow for social distancing for our patrons.

We continue to be diligent in sanitizing hard surfaces on an accelerated schedule throughout the theater including bathroom fixtures, light switches, and armrests.

We encourage all patrons to follow the WHO advice and frequently wash their hands for 20 seconds or more.

Additionally, if you are ill or showing any symptoms related to COVID-19, please do not come to the theater.

Thank you for your support and for your attention to this. Public health is the responsibility of all of us.”

*** UPDATE *** – The remaining performances of The Beauty Queen of Leenane have been canceled.

Healdsburg’s Raven Players are continuing their “Raven on the Road” production of Love a la Carte. The show, being performed at the Costeaux French Bakery, will have one final performance tonight, March 14, at 8:00 pm.

From Raven Artistic Director Steven David Martin:

“We are taking the coronavirus threat seriously and are taking precautions while striving to keep our plays available to those who wish to attend. The Raven Players current production is at an off-site venue in the community. The venue has a seating capacity of around 40, so the Governor’s executive order prohibiting gatherings over 250 people does not apply. However the CDPH has advised that smaller venues that cannot guarantee 6-foot social spacing should consider cancelling or postponing events.  We want to be respectful of this but also offer our plays to those who wish to attend in person. That is the reason we have decided to complete the run of Love a la Carte at Costeaux French Bakery… Obviously the situation is fluid, and we are making everyone’s health and safety the top priority as we move forward. If any patrons who have already purchased tickets choose not to attend the shows, we will issue refunds.

We also want you to know we are stepping up our sanitizing efforts and encourage everyone to get tested, and if you are experiencing any symptoms to stay home, get rest, and attend to your well-being.

Let me reiterate that the situation is fluid and we may indeed choose to cancel performances if it is warranted from a public health perspective. Look for periodic updates and, again, if you have purchased a ticket for Love a la Carte and choose not to attend, we will refund your full ticket price. Please contact us at: info@raventheater.org

Thank you for taking care of yourself – and each other.”

The Raven has canceled their upcoming production of The German Upstairs.

*** UPDATE *** – The final performance of Love a la Cart has been cancelled for non-COVID-19 related reasons.

For folks seeking dinner and a show, Charlie’s Restaurant at the Windsor Golf Club is hosting Get a Clue Productions‘ Murder at Sea tonight, March 14 at 7:00 pm.

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Check individual theatre sites for ticket availability and updates.

North Bay Stage and Screen will have continuing coverage on the impact of COVID-19 on the local theatre scene.