2 uptown Charlotte cultural centers announce closings to reduce spread of coronavirus
Two prominent uptown Charlotte cultural and arts centers announced Saturday they will close to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Blumenthal Performing Arts suspended all public events at its facilities on Saturday until April 12.
And the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, at Levine Center for the Arts on South Tryon Street, will close to the public on Sunday until further notice.
All Gantt Center programs during the closing have been canceled.
“I know that together, we will get through this period of uncertainty,” David Taylor, Gantt Center president and CEO, said in a statement. “It is our hope that you and your loved ones remain safe, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Gantt Center soon.”
The Blumenthal closing includes Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse and Stage Door Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center; McGlohon Theater and Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square; and Knight Theater.
Events at the Blumenthal-managed facilities have been postponed or canceled, and Blumenthal’s presentation of “The Color Purple” at Ovens Auditorium has been postponed.
“The safety of our guests, our volunteers and our staff must always be our primary concern, and that is why we are taking this action,” Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard said in a statement Saturday night.
“We deeply regret the disruptions our community faces as a result of the coronavirus, but hope our action and that of our performing arts peers across the country will be helpful in controlling spread of the virus,” Gabbard said.
The closings and postponements follow others among Charlotte arts groups.
The Charlotte Ballet and the Charlotte Symphony postponed weekend shows within hours of curtain time Friday.
The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte also canceled the final weekend of GRIMMZ Fairy Tales and postponed its run of Dragons Love Tacos to April 24 through May 17.
Also Friday, the Levine Museum of the New South announced that it would close through March 29. And Discovery Place announced it will close its locations until March 27.
The Mint Museum has canceled all events and programs until the end of March, although the cancellations do not apply to weddings or corporate events. The museum has closed the Lewis Family Gallery to the public.
News Saturday that Mecklenburg County health officials identified a new case of COVID-19 capped a week of turmoil and disruption from concerns over the spread of the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
In the case reported Saturday, the person recently traveled from the United Kingdom and is self-isolating at home, Mecklenburg health officials said. The person’s family members are quarantined, officials said.
The case was the second of a Mecklenburg County resident testing positive for the virus. A third person was tested at a local facility but lives in Cabarrus County, officials said previously.
The case was at least the 24th in North Carolina of people testing positive for COVID-19.
On Saturday, Gov. Roy Cooper banned gatherings of more than 100 people and ordered schools closed Monday for at least two weeks.
For a complete list of affected Blumenthal events, visit BlumenthalArts.org/eventalerts.
Anyone with a pre-scheduled visit to the Gantt Center should reschedule by calling 704-547-3700 or emailing at gsa@ganttcenter.org.
Rescheduled dates for ticketed Blumenthal events will be available to current ticket buyers as information becomes available.
Ticketholders are encouraged to hold onto their tickets until new dates are announced. If the new dates are not acceptable, buyers will get full refunds, Blumental official said.
Blumenthal’s ticketing department, which also serves many other organizations under the CarolinaTix name, will continue to operate online and by phone. The Belk Theater Box Office also is closed though April 12.
Shows scheduled for later dates also will remain on sale at BlumenthalArts.org and CarolinaTix.org and by calling 704-372-1000.