Tony Robbins, S.F. Ballet among events shuttered

Motivational speaker Tony Robbins and a popular St. Patrick’s Day festival are among the latest casualties as Bay Area events yield to the threat of COVID-19, the coronavirus that has sickened more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,800 worldwide.

Robbins’ organization announced March 9 that it was postponing the “Unleash the Power Within” event planned for March 1215 at San Jose’s SAP Center — the first time in 40 years that Robbins has canceled an event. The event has not been rescheduled, but the organization says it is working on finding a new date.

A statement posted on Robbins’ website says, “We are extremely disappointed to announce that we have no choice but to postpone.” The organization cited California’s declared state of emergency and said the SAP Center, where the event was to be held, is in “a hot zone region.”

“Our team, along with the venue’s management, has done everything possible up until the last minute, to safely hold the event as planned,” the statement read.

“However, daily changing conditions, public health and government guidance, international travel restrictions, and escalating distress in Santa Clara County brought on by the unfolding global coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns has forced this decision.”

The organization says it was expecting 12,000 people at the event, and it encourages ticket holders to seek airline and hotel refunds. The group says it will be reaching out to registrants within 72 hours to give them details of their options.

Meanwhile, other events at SAP Center remain scheduled, including hockey games, concerts — singer Marc Anthony is slated for March 20 — and other performances such as “Cirque du Soleil: Axel” (March 2428). A spokesman for the venue has said officials are monitoring COVID-19 developments daily. Check sapcenter.com for updates.

Robbins’ announcement March 9 was the biggest in a new series of Bay Area event cancellations related to COVID-19, although the reactions by venues remain far from consistent.

While the San Francisco Symphony and Ballet have canceled all performances through March 20, Sfjazz, “Hamilton,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and rock concerts at Oakland’s Oracle Arena and Fox Theater remain on schedule for the time being.

And while several events in the South Bay and Silicon Valley have been called off, there are performances at venues such as San Jose’s Hammer Theatre and City National Civic and the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts that remain a go. For now.

Ticket holders to any event are advised to check with the venue or the organizer before they go. The situation will likely be changing by the day.

In an order signed March 7 by San Francisco County’s top health office, both the city and the county have banned what it is calling “non-essential group events” at all city-owned facilities for the next two weeks.

The order covers City Hall, the Moscone Center, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the New Conservatory Theatre, the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., and Piers 27 and 35.

So far, S.F. Symphony performances at Davies Symphony Hall and S.F. Ballet performances of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the War Memorial Building have been listed as canceled, as have all performances at Herbst Theatre, including concerts and recitals for S.F. Performances. In a related move, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has canceled its performances March 12-15, which included a concert at the Herbst and other affected venues.

New Conservatory Theatre, which operates in a city-owned building at 25 Van Ness Ave., has announced it is canceling all performances of “The Book of Mountains and Seas” through March 21.

So far, however, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, which is operated by Another Planet Entertainment, has not listed any of its shows as canceled.

Here are some other events and activities that have been postponed or canceled.

• The City of Dublin announced March 9 that it was calling off its annual two-day St. Patrick’s Day festival, which was set for March 14-15. The festival, which typically has a parade, pancake breakfast, fun run and more than 200 vendors, draws about 80,000 visitors each year.

• ARTSPARK, Symphony Silicon Valley’s educational outreach program, has canceled “It’s About Time: Music, Math & More,” planned for March 23-24 in San Jose, but it plans to offer the program next year. The symphony website lists its next concert, featuring pianist Jon Nakamatsu as a guest soloist, as still scheduled for March 21-22. Check for updates at symphonysiliconvalley.org.

• San Francisco Chamber Orchestra has canceled its Family Concert No. 3: In Harmony with the Oakland Youth Chorus and soprano Ann Moss, which had been set for 2 p.m.march 14 at the Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco; noon March 15 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center; and 3:30 p.m. March 15 at the Palo Alto Community Center.

The next planned performance is Kay Stern and Friends Classical at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley, slated for April 13.

• Arts presenter Stanford Live says it is complying with a university policy of canceling public events involving 150 people or more. As a result, Stanford Live performances at the university’s Bing Concert Hall are canceled through April 15. But events at the university’s smaller Bing Studio are still on, including a concert by the group Dreamers’ Circus (March 12) and performances by comedian Colin Quinn (March 14-15).