COVID-19 uptick halts theater series, World Dance Competition
Central Floridians hoping for a return to in-person theater will have to wait a while longer. As well, dance fans face a new delay in the return of Orlando’s signature events.
The presenters of “Gilligan’z Island,” which was scheduled to take the stage at Parliament House’s Footlight Theatre on Friday, has been delayed. And the annual World Ballet Competition, which had already been postponed until October, now won’t take place again until next summer.
“We have decided to postpone the show due to the new increased in corona cases,” said “Gilligan’z Island” co-director Joshua Eads on Saturday. A comic take on the misadventures of a group of eccentric castaways stranded after a “three-hour tour” by boat goes awry, “Gilligan’z Island” spoofed the Bob Denver-starring “Gilligan’s Island,” which ran on CBS from 1964 to 1967.
“Gilligan’z Island” was the latest in a series of stage shows parodying beloved television sitcoms produced and directed by Eads and Richard Kuntz. The two, wellknown for their drag personas of Ginger Minj and Gidget Galore, respectively, cofounded the “TVLand Live” series and have staged successful spoofs of “The Golden Girls” and “Roseanne.”
The TVLand Live team already had announced a series of precautions against COVID-19, such as sanitizing the theater before and after each performance. Theatergoers were asked to wear masks.
“Even though we are taking every precaution, we can’t in good conscience ask the community to put themselves at risk when Florida is poised to become the next epicenter,” Eads said.
In recent days, Florida has reported record numbers of coronavirus cases.
“We’re going to monitor the situation and announce new dates as soon as it’s safe,” Eads said. “We at TVLand Live want our audiences to know that we will always put their safety first.”
That sentiment was echoed by Vasile Petrutiu, executive director of Central Florida Ballet, who oversees the World Ballet Competition.
The annual summer event, originally scheduled for June 14-20, draws participants and spectators from around the world. Along with health concerns, event organizers said, maintaining equitable standards for competitors and navigating ever-changing travel logistics proved too challenging.
“The safety of WBC competitors will always be of paramount importance,” said Petrutiu.
“This decision will ensure that all attendees are given a fair, safe and rewarding experience,” he wrote in a letter to participants.
“The decision came after careful consideration of guidelines for social distancing and international travel limitations for competition participants related to COVID-19 protocols and health precautions,” the competition’s announcement stated. “The closure of local studios that are normally available for competitor rehearsals was also a factor.”
The next large-scale in-person theatrical event currently scheduled in Central Florida is a production of “Hello, Dolly,” expected to open Aug. 27 at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. The theater has detailed extensive plans to maximize audience safety, including increased cleaning, a oneway traffic flow in the venue, a requirement that patrons to wear masks, and a new seating plan that distances audience members by leaving half the theater’s seats empty.