‘Carol,’ other shows canceled over virus
BroadwaySF has canceled remaining performances of “A Christmas Carol,” the theater announced Wednesday, Dec. 22, citing positive COVID results.
“Despite robust measures being in place, breakthrough COVID-19 cases have been detected within the” company, the presenter said in a statement.
At first, the theater canceled only Wednesday’s matinee and evening performances, but just hours later, it shut down the whole production. Jack Thorne’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novella was slated to run at the Golden Gate Theatre through Sunday,
Dec. 26.
BroadwaySF sent ticket holders a message saying they’d be automatically refunded.
Later that same day, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus announced it was canceling its “Home for the Holidays” concerts scheduled to take place Friday, Dec. 24, at the Castro Theatre. It also cited breakthrough cases as its reason.
“(T)icket holders are encouraged to convert their ticket into a taxdeductible donation,” the chorus said in a statement, but also offered refunds.
The news comes as multiple other Bay Area performing arts organizations and venues have
called off shows in recent days.
Mark Morris Dance Group’s Cal Performances appearance was first, announcing on Saturday, Dec. 18, the cancellation of its two remaining performances. Audience members who stood within 6 feet of anyone in the company for more than 15 minutes during the dance company’s opening night on Friday,
Dec. 17, were advised to get tested for COVID.
Berkeley Playhouse followed, announcing a truncated run of “Into the Woods,” which had originally been scheduled to run through Thursday, Dec. 23.
Most Bay Area theaters have strict vaccination requirements for both performers and audiences; actors don’t wear masks when they
perform, but audiences are required to, with some producers, including BroadwaySF, granting exceptions for when spectators are in the lobby or when they’re consuming concessions.
These cancellations likely reflect just how contagious the omicron variant is. On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said the city’s case rates had doubled in just the past five days.
These developments also raise questions about January performances. Many companies, including American Conservatory Theater, haven’t even had a chance to resume inperson performances yet.
Already, Cutting Ball Theater has canceled “Honestly, I’ve Never Wanted to Bash Someone’s Head In with a Baseball Bat More Than I
Do Right Now,” which had been scheduled to make its world premiere Jan. 27-Feb. 27 as the Tenderloin company’s first in-performance since the pandemic hit. No one in cast and crew has tested positive, according to a theater spokesperson. The decision was preemptive: Two members of the team would have had to fly in from New York to begin rehearsals, and the theater didn’t want to take that risk.
It remains to be seen how ticket buyers will respond to the variant, but one January show, Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s “Swept Away,” has already announced two extensions.