Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 11.24.2020
Dear Friends,
It has truly been a year unlike any other. We know that nothing will ever replace coming to the NorShor, Family and Underground Theatres to experience the amazing live performances for which the Playhouse is known.
We cannot wait to bring our Playhouse family back together in-person. But now is not a safe time. This doesn’t mean we can’t continue to bring a little Playhouse magic to you in the comfort of your own homes.
In keeping with the Playhouse holiday tradition, tune in this December to two very special and original virtual productions. The NorShor Theatre presents Songs of the Season, featuring classic holiday songs performed by your favorite professional community artists. The Family Theatre presents My Christmas Wish For You, showcasing the talents of our young budding artists!
Both shows will be streamed on our YouTube channel for a limited time. We hope you will donate what you can to access these upcoming performances. In the upcoming weeks, we will be sharing more information about these virtual shows, behind-the-scenes looks, and more on our social channels, (And, if you don’t already, give us a follow!)
In the meantime, we have a very special request. Since closing last March, the Playhouse has had to cancel 17 productions and 4 special events – that adds up to 130 canceled performances and 40,000 seats unsold. Unfortunately, indoor theaters will be one of the last industries to restart. The financial impact of such a prolonged closure is devastating.
Here’s our idea: Will you help us “sell-out” our venues once again, as we often do with live performances, in this time of darkness? Our goal is to raise $100,000.00. With 600 seats at the NorShor Theatre, 300 seats at the Family Theatre, and 100 seats in the Underground, the Playhouse fills 1,000 seats performance after performance.
If 1,000 people donated $100 each to SAVE YOUR SEAT, we will fill our theatres once again, if only in our hearts. Mostly, your donation will help the Playhouse recover from the significant loss of show-related income. As always, donations of any amount are much appreciated and will help us reach our goal.
Funds raised from the SAVE YOUR SEAT campaign and holiday streaming productions will go directly toward sustaining The Duluth Playhouse as we push through this pandemic and plan for better days ahead.
To SAVE YOUR SEAT or for further information, visit www.duluthplayhouse.org/SaveYourSeat/.
With 106 years of bringing entertainment and opportunities to our community, the Playhouse will prevail because of you and your support. We hope you will keep the arts in your hearts and continue to support us through this very difficult time.
Thank you, dear friends. We miss you and look forward to raising the curtain upon your smiling faces once again. The shows will go on!
Wishing you and yours a warm, safe, and healthy holiday season!
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 11.20.2020
In light of the Governor’s recent statement made on 11/18/2020, our Box Office is closed as of Monday, November 23.
We are checking our messages periodically, and for quicker service, please email boxoffice@duluthplayhouse.org and we will be in touch as soon as we can.
You can also contact us by phone (218.733.7555). Thank you!
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 11.4.2020
We have new Box Office hours! We are now open from 10:00am-3:00pm, Monday-Friday. Walk-ins welcome, and a mask is required for entry. You can also contact us by phone (218.733.7555) or email (boxoffice@duluthplayhouse.org).
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 10.15.2020
We have updated our Health and Safety Plan for the reopening of our stages. Read the updated plan below:
Playhouse Health and Safety Plan – Updated October 15, 2020
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 10.9.2020
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.
You can read our COVID Safety & Health Plan here or by clicking the blue ‘Learn More’ button below. We invite everyone to bookmark this webpage and visit often for detailed information regarding our COVID-19 Safety Plan and updates as they happen.
This will be the first of several messages being sent out over the next couple of months as planning continues to take shape and other performance offerings come into focus. 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.
- Christine Gradl Seitz, Executive Director, seitz@duluthplayhouse.org
- Phillip Fazio, NorShor Theatre Artistic Directo<, pfazio@duluthplayhouse.org
- Amber Burns, Family Theatre Artistic Director, aburns@duluthplayhouse.org
- Robert Lee, The Underground Theatre Artistic Director,rlee@duluthplayhouse.org
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 9.9.2020
The Playhouse School of Performing Arts is offering a wide variety of classes this Fall for youth, teens and adults. Fall back into fun with us!
CLASS DATES:
- Dance classes run September 26-November 28, 2020.
- Theatre and Musical Theatre classes run October 3-November 7, 2020.
- Stage Play: Theatre for Children with Autism runs September 30-November 8, 2020.
CLASS LOCATIONS: Please check your class registration information carefully as classes will be held in two locations:
- Depot Rehearsal Studio (506 W. Michigan St.), or
- NorShor Theatre Rehearsal Studios (211 E. Superior St.)
COVID-19 PROCEDURES:
- All students and teachers are required to wear a mask during classes.
- All classes will be socially distanced.
- Each class will have a limited capacity to follow CDC guidelines.
- Only students and teachers will be allowed inside the studios.
- Read our updated education COVID safety guidelines here.
To see class offerings, dates and times, tuitions, and other details for youth and teens ages 5-18, click here.
To see class offerings, dates and times, tuitions, and other details for adults ages 18+, click here.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 7.15.2020
In a unanimous vote Monday night (July 13), the Duluth City Council voted to approve an emergency ordinance which requires people ages 10 and older to wear masks or other face coverings when inside publicly accessible common areas of buildings.
Learn more about this new, city-wide mask wearing ordinance, in effective immediately here.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 4.22.2020
We are very sad to inform you upcoming productions and events across our three venues have been postponed for the months of May and June.
That does not mean these shows will not be seen on the NorShor, Depot and Underground stages. Though dates will change, we plan to produce all shows currently on hold, as soon as permissible.
Some shows may possibly get to the stage late summer – others will most likely find a slot in the 2020-2021 season beginning in September. All shows have been cast, with directors and designers ready to bring you an exciting experience.
Current Shows Postponed Until Further Notice:
- NorShor Theatre: Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Mousetrap, and The Who’s Tommy
- Family Theatre: Matilda, A Year with Frog and Toad, James and the Giant Peach JR, Urinetown: The Musical, and Summer Camps
- Underground Theatre: Macbeth: Dinner Party, Around the World in 80 Days, What She Said Festival, and The Wild Party
We can’t know when the social gathering restriction will be lifted. But when it is, the Playhouse will be ready to bring shows to the stage, so we may smile, laugh, and cry together once again.
We understand season ticket holders have seats for shows that have been postponed, and many single ticket purchasers as well. There are advertisers and sponsors who are also invested in the Playhouse’s upcoming productions.
If possible, would you please consider hanging on to your tickets or donating them? (We will send a tax donation letter.) As soon as the Playhouse is up and running, any tickets held will be honored. Thank you for this consideration.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 3.25.2020
With the announcement of Minnesota’s “Shelter-In-Place” order to help stop the spread of COVID-19, our offices are now closed until further notice. We are checking phone messages and emails periodically, so please be patient while waiting for a response. If you do have questions, you are still welcome to call the Box Office at 218.733.7555 or email boxoffice@duluthplayhouse.org, and we will do our best to reply to your inquiry as soon as possible.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 3.18.2020
The Underground Theatre’s production of Macbeth: Dinner Party have been postponed. New dates will be announced once the new performances have been determined.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 3.16.2020
Following the Governor’s announcement that K-12 schools will be closing to help stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) over the weekend, our spring classes for youth, teens and adults will be cancelled this week (March 16-22, 2020).
Our education staff is reevaluating possible alternatives for our classes, so please stay tuned for further updates for remaining upcoming class weeks. If you have questions, please contact Amber at aburns@duluthplayhouse.org.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 3.13.2020
Governor Walz’s press conference today announced the Minnesota Department of Health’s new recommendation for events of 250 people or more be cancelled or postponed, and we are following this directive immediately as your health and safety are one of our highest priorities at the Duluth Playhouse.
After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the following events:
- Mardi Gras Bash – March 14 – postponed (new date to be determined)
- Matilda: The Musical – March 13 through 22 – postponed (new dates TBD)
- Monty Python’s Spamalot – March 19 through April 5– postponed (new dates TBD)
- What She Said Festival – March 26 through 28 – postponed (new dates TBD)
We deeply value your commitment to the Playhouse and our stages, and we will accommodate each and every patron to the best of our ability as we manage these unprecedented changes.
Your tickets to these productions will be honored for the rescheduled dates, so stay tuned. You also have the following options:
- Donate your tickets. As a nonprofit arts organization, we rely heavily on your support. If you could consider donating your tickets back to the theatre rather than request a refund, it would help the Playhouse immensely in these challenging and uncertain times. You will receive a tax donation letter immediately.
- Exchange your tickets to another upcoming performance in our season.
- Request a refund.
We sincerely hope we are back up and performing in time for Macbeth: Dinner Party, opening April 16 in The Underground, but we have no way of knowing at this time.
Our spring youth, teen, and adult classes will continue as scheduled. With the CDC’s recommendation to not close K-12 public schools, we are keeping our education programming open until different recommendations are made. Our Summer Camps are also still open for enrollment by going online at www.duluthplayhouse.org/summer-camps or call the Box Office at 218.733.7555.
Our Box Office and administrative offices will remain open at this time to assist you with ticketing questions and other concerns. Thank you for your patience as we work through this process.
We are continuing to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of the CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health, and local government. We will keep patrons updated as more developments occur with this situation at right here (www.duluthplayhouse.org/playhouse-covid19).
This genuinely breaks our hearts to do this, and we are ever grateful for your support of the Playhouse. Be safe and considerate in the upcoming weeks, and we hope to see you all back at the theatre very soon.
Playhouse COVID-19 Update – 3.12.2020
