FOLKS –  welcome to the October message from the President’s table: Re-Opening After COVID

So, per Lewis Carroll …  “the time has come the Walrus said to talk of many things: of shoes, and ships, and sealing-wax, of cabbages and kings…”  and of course you all know the answer, “But wait a bit, the Oysters cried, before we have our chat; for some of us are out of breath, and all of us are fat!”

Yep, that’s COVID! Well, not all of us are, but certainly the time has indeed come …

 Last week the Ontario government announced that venues like ours could finally welcome their patrons back into 100% of the facility capacity.  Of course two weeks earlier they had announced 50% capacity, so pardon us for being a little cautious – “ In a minute there is time, for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse” (for you J Alfred Prufrock types).

 No, but this was exciting news! Almost 19 months to the day, we shut down BURN (by local playwright John Muggleton).  “BURN” was to be the 6th production of our nine show 2019/20 season.  But on March 18th the theatre was literally shuttered and we postponed the remaining 4 shows.

Now, it really does looks like there is visible spectrum light, at the end of what has been a very long and winding tunnel.  But “once bitten, twice shy” (someone’s grandmother).

OK well, the time has come – let’s throw caution to the wind –  let’s throw open the doors, clean out the cobwebs, dust the dimming the lights, and crank up the overtures, etc.

Enough waffling, let me get right to it.  Last week the Board of Directors met and approved operational, production and communications plans, focused on two points: “when” and “how.”  Simple plans, because simple plans have the highest chance of being executed and are easiest to change. I’ll summarize a lengthy discussion.

WHEN

  • December 5 2021:  we will announce the “new/old” season – consisting of 4 plays that we owe you folks,  and in addition 5 amazing shows from our planned season that never happened (2020/21). A whole year with no shows  – never before in the past 107 years have we lost a season – unprecedented! (2021’s word of the year)
  •  February 23 2022: we will fully open the doors again for BURN’s – opening night – finally!!

HOW

  • Immediately:  we will begin to get the facility ready –  cleaning every inch, replacing air filters, getting out the sanitizers and making your theatre as safe as we possibly can – that will likely take a couple of months
  • November: tech folks can get in and start testing equipment, checking levels, replacing bulbs and receivers (?) – whatever they do, it’s always a mystery to the on-stage folks – we’re just glad they do what they do so well!!
  • November – we will open up the box-office, checking on show reservations, and prepping all systems for the 2022 SEASON LAUNCH !!! (applause sign) \
  • mid–November: we activate the casts and crews of the first couple of shows  – back on stage or back in the rehearsal rooms.  We may even have to re-audition some roles – COVID has changed things for many of our volunteers. Some people moved away, while others welcomed the newest future volunteers and creatives into the world. We can’t wait to meet those new babies – the silver linings of the pandemic.
  • December: the costume and props people can get creative again – who knows – maybe fashion has changed a lot in the last 2 years, or could be a few costume adjustment due to the COVID 19 pounds – just saying!

Highlighting all these things, and I could add many more, should give you a sense that after 20 months the theatre has to start slowly, stretching and warming-up to an opening – a 51 year old building doesn’t just kick-start.

BUT, let it be known, we are up to it, and all raring to go and we have a plan!  What could go wrong?

One more point, if I may:

WHY

Why launch a “new/old” 9-show season – two reasons:

  • We need to get revenues flowing again – 2 years with little earnings has stretched reserves – and you folks signing up for a new season is critical and,
  • We actually believe in this format – a theatre season that starts in the Spring, runs through the Summer and finishes before Winter takes its hold, is a very workable concept.  I mean who really wants to come downtown in the dead of winter and fight the snow and ice – no matter how good our shows are (applause sign again)? This new season format might work very well going forward.

And if that doesn’t get you excited,  there are more changes to come – focusing on easing access, minimizing crowding and overall improving the theatre experience.  More on that next time we chat … “always leave ’em wanting more, and reaching for the tissues” (some old vaudevillian, I think).

One final ask of you: to improve communications and reduce costs we would appreciate doing business with you electronically whenever we can. Now, we are not totally getting rid of our envelopes and stamps, but the stats show that most of you are on email.

So,  whenever possible we’d like to reduce the mailouts and communicate with you through the interweb; but only for those of you who AGREE.

To indicate your agreement to this approach, please click HERE! We can count the ballots and up-date you next time we chat.

 That’s it for now – social safely, and remember “don’t hesitate, vaccinate!”

Geoff

 

P.S. Going forward, the Ottawa Little Theatre will proceed with safety measures in place, following Public Health guidelines. This means that the Ottawa Little Theatre will restrict all visitors, patrons, volunteers (including on stage and backstage), and staff to those proven fully vaccinated.