The Blumenthal changes part of its Broadway season lineup, preps for audience return
Blumenthal Performing Arts has had to shuffle the shows in its new Broadway season, as some tours closed because of the novel coronavirus, while another popular production, “Hadestown,” became available.
Meanwhile, preparations are continuing behind the scenes for when the shows will go on.
All Blumenthal events are postponed until at least July 7. But CEO Tom Gabbard said they will most likely have to remain closed past this date to comply with Gov. Roy Cooper’s three phase reopening plan.
The performing arts center has been preparing to make a potential reopen as safe as possible.
“We will have to make some changes,” he said. “And masking will probably be a part of it. But I do think there is a way for us to return to the theater sometime this fall.”
“We’ve talked about things that can happen outdoors, and also embrace social distancing as a part of that,” Gabbard said. “We are looking at what the options are inside our venues to do some small-scale programs.”
Recently, Gabbard was on a Zoom call with the venue leaders of a show that chose not to shut down during the pandemic — “The Phantom of the Opera” in Seoul, Korea.
The Korean venue has implemented several safety measures in order to continue the show, including making sure the audience and cast members wore masks, taking everyone’s temperature before they entered the theater and putting hand sanitizer stations across the venue, as well as cleaning regularly.
“The fact that they’ve done it very successfully in Korea gives us some hope,” Gabbard said.
When the Blumenthal reopens, audience members will have to get used to some changes. They should expect to see frequent hand sanitizer stations and be required to wear masks for indoor events and fill out questionnaires about their symptoms prior to entering a venue, Gabbard said.
“We’re likely gonna embrace it,” he said. “I know for some people they may have a problem with that, and if they do, then they’ll likely have to choose another entertainment option. Because we are committed to figuring out a way to do this safely.”
Revenue losses
Gabbard said closures of Blumenthal venues due to the pandemic have been costing the organization about $1 million a month. But money from the federal Paycheck Protection Program has allowed the Blumenthal to prevent furloughs or layoffs for staff.
He said the cost to reopen could be even greater than current revenue losses, especially if audiences don’t show up once shows return.
The Blumenthal is part of a state and international group conducting surveys to evaluate when the theater community is willing to start seeing shows again. Gabbard said the group sends out about 5000 emails every week to people who have purchased tickets over the last few years to evaluate the audience’s eagerness to come back.
“We’re eager to launch, but we don’t want to do it too soon, either,” he said.
The new lineup
The Blumenthal also recently detailed change to its previously announced 2020-21 Broadway season: The shows “Tootsie,” “The Cher Show” and “Aida” are no longer part of the season because COVID-19 led to changes in their tour routes and the scheduling of Charlotte’s engagements. In their places comes “Hadestown,” which won the 2019 Tony award for Best Musical.
The show tells the story of two classic myths — young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and his wife Persephone — during a journey to the underworld and back. On Broadway featured Charlotte’s own Eva Noblezada plays Eurydice, and earned her second Tony nomination for the part.
Here are the shows in the reconfigured 2020-21 Broadway season:
PNC BROADWAY LIGHTS SERIES
“Hamilton,” Jan. 26-Feb. 21, 2021 (Ovens Auditorium)
“To Kill a Mockingbird,” March 23-28. 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Ain’t Too Proud,” April 27-May 2, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Mean Girls,” July 6-11, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Hadestown,” Oct. 12-17, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“1776,” Nov. 16-21, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Oklahoma!,” Feb. 9-14, 2021 (Knight Theater)
EQUITABLE BRAVO SERIES
“Wicked,” Dec. 9, 2020 - Jan. 10, 2021 (Ovens Auditorium)
“Hamilton,” Jan. 26-Feb. 21, 2021 (Ovens Auditorium)
“Pretty Woman,” March 2-7, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Rent,” April 13-18, 2021 (Ovens Auditorium)
“Dear Evan Hansen,” Sept. 21-26, 2021 (Belk Theater)
EXTRAS
“Potted Potter,” Nov. 24-29, 2020 (McGlohon Theater)
“Blue Man Group,” May 7-9, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Hairspray,” May 14-16, 2021 (Ovens Auditorium)
“Freestyle Love Supreme,” May 18-23, 2021 (Knight Theater)
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” May 21-23, 2021 (Ovens Auditorium)
“What the Constitution Means to Me,” June 8-13, 2021 (Knight Theater)
“Riverdance,” June 29-July 4, 2021 (Belk Theater)
“Jesus Christ Superstar,” Aug. 24-29, 2021 (Belk Theater)
For people who are uncomfortable committing to season ticket purchases during the pandemic, the Blumenthal has created a ticket purchase policy that guarantees those who buy tickets before Sept. 1 will be able to select three alternate options to attending shows that are running up until Aug. 30, 2021.
These options include exchanging the ticket for another event or gift card, donating the ticket value to the Blumenthal or receiving a full refund, or a credit to a season ticket payment plan including service fees.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 2:12 PM.
