More Local Theatre Cancellations

   It’s been a difficult couple of days for community theatres as they react to the coronavirus.

   So far, Alchemy Theatre has continued its production of “Follies” - the final performance of that show will be on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in Huntington.

   But it's painful news out of Ashland, where the Paramount Players canceled their performances of “Mamma Mia,” which were set to start Friday night. They issued this announcement on Facebook: “The board met today and decided to cancel all shows for the next 30 days, including Mamma Mia. This absolutely breaks my heart, but they are doing what they feel is best for the community. Thank you to everyone who was planning to attend.”

   In Logan, the curtain also came down early on their production of "The Crucible." Here’s their announcement: “Due to concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19), in an abundance of caution we have decided to close "The Crucible" early. Our final performance will take place TONIGHT, March 13 at 7 p.m. at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.”

   The Charleston Light Opera Guild has also shut down its Spring season, which was to include the musical “Memphis.” Here’s their announcement: “As you know, the ongoing response to COVID-19/coronavirus has been quickly evolving. In an effort to act on the advice of government officials, public health authorities and medical professionals for the health and safety of our patrons and performers, we are immediately canceling all performances of “Memphis” set for April and May. We will be reaching out to current “Memphis” ticket holders via email or phone with refund protocol, but please contact charlestonlightoperaguild@gmail.com if you have any questions. We will be responding as quickly as we can. We will also keep you updated as new information becomes available for the remainder of our 2020 season. The need to cancel a production is never easy, as it impacts many people in our community, including our dedicated artists and craftspeople. However, it is imperative that we keep our community safe, and that will remain the most important factor in how we continue to respond to the current pandemic. Your ongoing support of the Charleston Light Opera Guild is deeply appreciated and vital as we continue to bring Broadway to the Charleston and surrounding communities. We look forward to the moment that we can once again raise the curtain on another exciting CLOG production.”

   Stay tuned, we expect more announcements in the next few days.