Shakespeare in Delaware Park announced the cancellation of its entire summer season. Online is where the action is and SIDP has one of the busiest Facebook pages. Visit here for their 30th anniversary online celebration (CHANGED TO Saturday 5/30) and Road Less Traveled to hear a podcast with Anthony and Peter Palmisano. Tonight (Friday) you can go to BroadwayCares.org/Chita at 8pm to see some legendary performers.
Theater is a live performance before an audience, whether it's a few intent souls in a makeshift space or a large outdoor audience lolled across a hill, snacking and imbibing. Take either element away and it's not theater. Shakespeare in Delaware Park, which had already announced the cancellation of AS YOU LIKE IT has now announced the cancellation of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Well, they're saying "postponement" and presumably those will be the plays offered in the summer of 2021. Shawfest and Stratford and now SIDP, these are big shoes that are dropping. THUD!
So are "virtual" events, even live, actually theater? It's moot, because, that's all there is. And so everyone is encouraged to like all the theaters on social media and to regularly check out their websites for all sorts of delights.
There is a ripple effect however. With no live patrons, there are no Uber fares, no parking lot attendants needed, no pre-show dinners need wait-staff or cooks or dishwashers, no post-show drinks means no bartenders and no lounge musicians, no baby sitters are hired, no souvenires are sold, no snacks are bought at intermission, no janitors are hired, there's no overtime for police. And this week, because no one is traveling, or putting on face to face seminars and meetings, and no touring performers need to be put up, Buffalo's Hyatt Regency has closed its doors. THUD.
It's been mentioned before on this show that the show you see at a theater is like seeing the tip of an iceberg. Most of the work has already taken place. If social distancing prevents you from blocking, rehearsing, costume fitting, hanging lights, ad infinitum NOW you can't put on a show later. Buffalo actress Jamie Nablo offered a recent Facebook thought:
"Watching people complain about events in the semi-near future being cancelled because 'they’re three months away' have no idea what it takes to actually put these events on. So. Much. Planning. So. Much. Money. So. Much. Risk.
Not sure if I’m upset at them or just astounded by the selfish nature of what they’re saying OR if they are really just unaware of how things work on the planning side."
Thank you Jamie.
30 Minutes ON THE 30th: MUSICALFARE'S MINI
30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Saturday, May 30th at 7:30pm (yes!)
MusicalFare is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year. We had planned a big event at the theatre for this Saturday, May 30th, but that celebration has been postponed until a later date, TBD.
In the meantime, we still want to commemorate our 30th Anniversary in a smaller way. So, we're going to have a 30-Minute (approximately!) virtual event from the Premier Cabaret and tickets are FREE. Simply register by clicking the button here and be a part of this celebration featuring Randy Kramer, Michele Marie Roberts, Steve Copps, and Theresa Quinn, PLUS special video appearances! At approximately 5:30pm on Saturday, you'll be emailed the link to join the event from your computer at 7:30pm!
Once you register today, you'll receive an automatic reply email thanking you - IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THIS EMAIL, PLEASE CONTACT THE BOX OFFICE AT 716-839-8540 or mfticket@daemen.edu so your are able to receive the link you'll need on Saturday!
(Please be sure to check your Spam/Junk folders in case your email system filters your emails incorrectly.)
And, at the end of Saturday's livestream, we'll be doing a champagne toast to MusicalFare - so stock up on your bubbly (or whatever other libation you prefer!)
JOIN US ON SATURDAY for 30 MINUTES OF FREE
FUN AND FROLIC!
Next week we will talk about Larry Kramer, playwright, and outspoken AIDS activist, who passed away at that age of 84.
