‘WE HOPE TO USE JANUARY AS A BUFFER’
Venue executives anxiously chart pandemic course
RIDGEFIELD — Executives of local live performance venues are concerned with recent COVID-19 spikes and emergence of the omicron variant.
However, the Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield Theater Barn and A Contemporary Theater of Connecticut all have lengthy breaks leading up to their next live performances.
“We just finished our programming for the year, we have no shows scheduled in January,” said Pamme Jones, executive director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn. “We hope to use January as a buffer and ride out what is going on right now with COVID.”
“Consumer confidence is the issue. It’s too early to really tell how much impact this variant will have on our business. But we do expect a large retreat from the theater after the holidays.” Pamme Jones, executive director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn.
Allison Stockel, executive director of the Ridgefield Playhouse, agrees with Jones that a lot will depend on what happens after the holidays when it comes to COVID-19 spikes and the omicron variant. That venue mandates masks. Artists may decide whether to require proof of vaccination.
“With the recent spikes and new variant some people are not comfortable and have changed tickets to later shows,” she said. “Broadway shows closing hasn’t helped. The real test for us will be after the first of the year to see where the COVID numbers are. Everyone is concerned with these new spikes and variant, it’s something we have to live with.”
At the Ridgefield Theater Barn, the next live show is “The Divas,” opening Feb. 4. Jones hopes COVID conditions will have improved by then.
“We’re moving forward and we’ll put ‘The Divas’ on our main stage in February, even if it means only having 50 percent patron capacity due to social distancing,” she said. “We still have our children’s program that will run to midFebruary. We are hoping that will continue because the kids need it.”
Jones said her theater will continue to enforce wearing masks and require proof of vaccination for patrons and all staff, including designers, directors and actors. The Ridgefield
Theater Barn has invested in cleaning the building and adding disinfectant foggers.
“We do everything we can to make it safe,” Jones said. “By now everyone knows about COVID and we want people to feel comfortable.”
Jones said since the omicron variant arrived some patrons have pulled out of some shows. It’s a wait and see situation with the everchanging effect of COVID, she said.
“The recent quick shutdown of shows on Broadway was unexpected and has had its impact,” Jones said. “It doesn’t help with the confidence people have going to a live show. Consumer confidence is the issue. It’s too early to really tell how much impact this variant will have on our business. But we do expect a large retreat from the theater after the holidays.”
The next live show for the Ridgefield Playhouse is the Genesis Show on Jan. 8. It’s the only Genesis tribute band in the United States dedicated to recreating the Phil Collins era of Genesis. Stockel said no artists scheduled for the Ridgefield Playhouse next year has canceled their tour.
A Contemporary Theater of Connecticut had its last production close on Oct. 24 and its next live performance show Nickel Mines is scheduled to open on Jan. 20. Artistic director Dan Levine said there has been no effect from the COVID spikes or omicron variant.
“We have not had any issues early on with the omicron variant and have not seen any drop in ticket sales,” Levine said. “We are always concerned with the COVID virus and always do our best to stay on top of it.”
Audience members must wear masks. Staff, actors, directors and anyone who works in the building needs to be vaccinated. Rehearsals are generally conducted in masks. Everyone is tested three times a week.
“We’re a union theater, so we have stringent requirements when it comes to the virus,” he said.
Jones said the theater industry doesn’t see a “light at the end of the tunnel.”
“We realize this virus could be with us a long time with continuous ebbs and flows,” she said. “The key is vaccinations are protecting people including children.”