The COVID-19 pandemic and omicron variant, which have wreaked havoc with professional sports and concert schedules while spreading sickness across the U.S., is now causing Atlanta theaters to cancel shows.
On Tuesday, True Colors Theatre Company and Synchronicity Theatre separately announced that they were scratching remaining performances of plays that opened before the holidays.
True Colors’ production of Marie and Rosetta, which was to have run through Thursday at Southwest Arts Center, has been shut down due to a positive COVID-19 test by one of the company members, according to spokesman Bill Marks.
Meanwhile, Synchronicity issued a statement on Tuesday saying that “Wonderland: Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure,” which was to have run through Sunday, has closed.
“This was a hard decision in response to positivity rates and the highly contagious new COVID-19 variants,” the Synchronicity statement said. “We are committed to doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
The troupe said it had already contacted patrons and was processing refunds. Its box office can be reached at 404-484-8636 or boxoffice@synchrotheatre.com. Patrons interested in making a donation to help offset the theater’s financial loss are being directed to bit.ly/givetosynchro.
True Colors is asking ticketholders to contact TicketsWest (470-639-8241) to receive a refund or to donate the value of their tickets.
Aurora’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Spectacular remains on the schedule, but the troupe on Tuesday replaced headliner Rob Cleveland with Big Kenney. Late Tuesday afternoon, Aurora confirmed that the change was due to a “breakthrough COVID-19 case” — meaning an infection of a fully vaccinated person.
“Please join the Aurora Theatre family in wishing Rob Cleveland a speedy recovery,” an Aurora statement said.
Credit: Casey Gardner Ford
Credit: Casey Gardner Ford
Last Thursday, Aurora Theatre canceled its final production of Christmas Canteen due to Covid exposure by a company member.
Just as theater companies warily approached the fall launch of the 2021-22 season, unsure what the future would hold, it appears that a taking-it-one-day-at-a-time practice has returned. Late Tuesday, Actor’s Express changed its webpage for Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel, which was to have begun previews on Jan. 5, instead listing the show as “Coming Soon.” On its website, Roswell’s Georgia Ensemble Theatre still shows Kate Hamill’s Vanity Fair opening Jan. 6.
Most metro troupes do not resume their schedules until late January or February, thus can wait and continue to monitor pandemic developments before making schedule decisions.
Credit: ArtsATL
Credit: ArtsATL
Working closely with the American Press Institute, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is embarking on an experiment to identify, nurture and expand a network of news partnerships across metro Atlanta and the state.
Our newest partner, ArtsATL (www.artsatl.org), is a nonprofit organization that plays a critical role in educating and informing audiences about metro Atlanta’s arts and culture. Founded in 2009, ArtsATL’s goal is to help build a sustainable arts community contributing to the economic and cultural health of the city.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be introducing more partners, and we’d love to hear your feedback.
You can reach Managing Editor Mark A. Waligore via email at mark.waligore@ajc.com.
