As we watch New Brunswick’s progress along the Path to Green Phase, and as more of us are becoming fully vaccinated, we are eagerly awaiting the day when we can reopen our doors to a full audience again.
In my 20+ years at the helm of the Fredericton Playhouse, it’s fair to say that this past season and a half have been the strangest yet. We have missed our audiences, and our performers, greatly.
As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the performing arts. For an organization whose mission is to gather people for shared experiences, it has been trying. For the artists and all those who work and derive purpose from presenting live performances, COVID-19 has been particularly devastating.
With the support of donors, sponsors, and funders, we have been able to keep our organization healthy and preparing for the day that we can return to “normal.” Now it looks as if that day will soon be upon us!
One thing we’ve certainly learned over the last 16 months is that there is no substitute for experiencing live performance. While we all stayed home and stayed safe, watching theatre or dance through our screens got us through; but we all felt their absence. Screens are no replacement for sharing an experience as an audience.
Our team is feverishly preparing a full season of shows for 2021-22. It’s going to be amazing. We are planning to make some announcements later this summer (once restrictions are loosened) and are looking forward to sharing the exciting lineup of shows.
In the meantime, we continue to monitor public health protocols for the upcoming season, and want to reassure you that the health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff remain our highest priority.
On behalf of our entire team, thank you again for your support through these tough times; you showed us just how important live performance is to this community. We cannot wait to welcome you back to the Fredericton Playhouse this September – stay tuned!
Until then, stay safe on our Path to Green, and have a wonderful summer.
Tim Yerxa
This story was brought to NouZie by RSS. The original post can be found on https://fredplayhouse.wordpress.com/2021/07/20/a-message-about-the-2021-spotlight-season-from-tim-yerxa/
