Dear Friends of the Playhouse,

First, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Duluth Playhouse. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone, and it would be impossible for us to make it through this difficult moment without you. We are heartbroken that seven months after turning off the lights, our stages are still dark. We miss seeing all the rising stars at the Family Theatre, laughing together at an inventive new play at The Underground, and being thrilled by a classic Broadway musical at the beautiful NorShor Theatre.

As we navigate these uncertain times, please know that the Playhouse staff has been hard at work reimagining what we can offer our community that is safe and entertaining under the current circumstances At the front of all our planning is you – our Playhouse Family. The health and safety of our patrons, artists, supporters, and volunteers will always be our number one priority. When our doors finally reopen, know that we will be following all the strictest mandates for social gatherings from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Center for Disease and Control (CDC).

After months of planning and endless preparations, we are very excited to announce a few special projects, just in time for the holidays!

First up, we are thrilled to premiere Tales from the Ghost Light over Halloween weekend. Join us for an all new virtual production inspired by classic ghost stories, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and mysterious experiences from our very own stages. Filmed throughout the NorShor Theatre, our cast of local artists will take you on a spooky journey through the dark hallways and rarely visited caverns of our historic venue while performing infamous tales for your enjoyment from home. Streaming details and more information will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

We are also excited to announce the return of the NorShor Classic Film Series! Please join us in December as we bring the holiday classic,It’s a Wonderful Life,back for an encore presentation on the big screen at the NorShor Theatre. Seating will be limited, so be sure to grab your tickets for the entire family when they go on sale November 1st.

And speaking of the holidays, in December, the Playhouse will offer three special events, live on stage! The NorShor Theatre will be filled with festive joy as performers you know and love present a brand-new holiday revue,Songs of the Season. On the Depot stage, we will see the return of everyone’s favorite department store elf, Crumpet, as The Underground revives the hysterical comedy,The Santaland Diaries. Finally, the Family Theatre will bring to life the classic holiday television special,A Charlie Brown Christmas. Ticket details and performance dates for all shows will be announced in the next few weeks.

All performances will be less than 90 minutes and performed without an intermission to reduce crowding. Theater capacity will be restricted to 25% and for everyone’s safety, face masks must always be worn. We have developed new seating charts to allow for at least six feet of separation between patrons and there will be a minimum of fifteen feet between performers and the audience. We are also reimagining how to move audiences more effectively in and out of our spaces and reduce congestion in hallways and restrooms. Before and after each performance, all spaces will receive a thorough sanitization and the inside air will be exchanged with outside air through our HVAC systems.

We fully understand that you might not be ready to come back to the theatre. To accommodate those who are high risk or still feeling uncertain, we are working on a high-quality streaming option to bring Playhouse productions straight to your living room. More details will be available soon on how to enjoy the magic of the Playhouse from home.

We invite everyone to visit www.duluthplayhouse.com/COVID19, and often, for updates and detailed information regarding our COVID-19 Safety Plan. We intend to make an announcement on our plans for 2021 as soon as those details are solidified.

We are also making this announcement with the understanding that the situation in our region could be very different come December. We will continue to update our protocols and adapt our programming in every way necessary to put the health and safety of our community first. If that means delaying or canceling planned performances, we are prepared to do so. Should we be unable to move forward responsibly, performances will be canceled and all tickets purchased will receive a full refund.

Thank you for being a loyal patron, artist, supporter, and volunteer.

Without a doubt, this is the most difficult period in the Playhouses’ 106-year history. With your continued support, we will make it through this unprecedented time.

If you are able, please consider a donation as we strive to safely take this important first step in reopening our doors.

We miss you and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

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BOX OFFICE: Please call 218.733.7555 or email boxoffice@duluthplayhouse.org. No walk-ins.