Anyone in the theater will tell you: The Show Must Go On. But if it’s not safe for the artists or the audience, then of course the reverse is true: the show must NOT go on. And, at least in the short term, that’s the situation we find ourselves in now.
In adapting to the extraordinary circumstances posed by the global pandemic, we’ve made the difficult decision to eliminate the world premiere of THE VENETIAN TWINS from our 2020 season. We remain hugely proud to have commissioned this play specifically for our tent and our audiences, and we hope to present it in a future season.
With this change, we will be going back to our roots at HVSF, producing two Shakespeare plays — RICHARD III and LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST, one after the other, rather than in rotating repertory. This simplified structure allows us the most flexibility as we continue to monitor the evolving situation, and all recommendations of the CDC, as well as state and local authorities.
If you have already booked tickets, a member of our staff will be in touch, as our performance calendar has necessarily shifted, and may well continue to change in coming weeks. In the meantime, please reach out to boxoffice@hvshakespeare.org with any questions or concerns.
So, with so much uncertainty at this moment, where does that leave HVSF and our fans and supporters in making plans for the summer? Well, we’re glad you asked!
Rather than sell you a ticket for a given night, based on a calendar which we know is subject to change, we are introducing something called an OPEN AIR FLEXPASS. Somewhere between a traditional ticket and a gift certificate, an OPEN AIR FLEXPASS is directly redeemable for one seat under the HVSF tent. It is designed to give us the funds we need to move forward with our season, and to give you, our patrons, total flexibility. These passes also represent a major discount, up to 44% off our regular ticket prices, to ensure that our summer season is accessible to everyone in these difficult times.
If you were planning to join us this summer, investing in an OPEN AIR FLEXPASS is the single best way to support HVSF at this perilous moment. It represents a vote of confidence in our theater company, and our mission. And it will afford us the liquidity to pay our artists when the time comes to begin rehearsal, so that we will be there when the world rights itself and all of us are in need of open spaces, timeless stories, and communion with other people under an open-air tent.