🔒New Haven arts groups in waiting game as pandemic takes toll

At 3:32 p.m. on March 8, the curtain came down on a touring production of “Cats” at New Haven’s Shubert Theatre.

The curtain has yet to rise again there — or any other major performing arts venue in the city. The idea of live shows in a confined indoor space with hundreds, if not thousands, of people is now just a memory as arts groups pivot to the changing dynamics associated with COVID-19 restrictions.

Six months — and counting — into the pandemic, we touch base with some local arts groups to find out what the closings have meant to their organizations and what their future plans are.

SHUBERT THEATRE

Of note: In late February, Executive Director John Fisher announced he was retiring at the end of 2020 after 23 years with the Connecticut Association for the Performing Arts, which formerly managed and, since 2013, now owns the theater — and is also affiliated with the Columbus (Ohio) Association for the Performing Arts.

Closings began: March 8, with the rest of its touring schedule canceled, show by show, throughout the spring.

Change in organization: Approximately 150 to 180 ushers, bartenders, ticket-takers, union stagehands and other seasonal and event employees were cut from payroll. Most of the 14 full-time staff were retained through government subsidy, but now the administrative staff is down to six.

In the meantime: Summer theater camp for New Haven, Westport and other areas went online. “We’re looking at some virtual stuff,” says Fisher, “but you can’t make much money on it … . There’s not much to do and there’s no income other than what development can raise.”

Financial impact: Theater was anticipating a $200,000 deficit prior to the pandemic. Now it looks like that has increased an additional $250,000.

Plans for fall and 2021: The tour of “Fiddler on the Roof” is penciled in for Feb. 26, but “we just don’t know what will happen,” says Fisher. “We were the first to close and we’ll be the last to re-open.”

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE

Of note: In April, Florie Seery became the new managing director of the theater (and associate dean of the Yale School of Drama). Since 2002, James Bundy has been the artistic director of the Rep (and dean of its affiliate, the Yale School of Drama).

Closings began: After considering reducing the number of patrons on March 9, it cancelled its current production March 12, followed soon by the cancellation of the remainder of the spring season.

Change in organization: Because there were no productions, seasonal and casual employees were not retained. Most employees at Rep also work for the Yale School of Drama and the full-time and benefitted staff were retained. Salary freeze across the university.

In the meantime?: Creation of newsletter “that represents our desire to stay in communication with audiences, but at the same time, we don’t want to do stuff just for the sake of doing stuff,” says Bundy. “We’d rather spend our time and energy re-envisioning how we do things when we do get back. One of the things that there’s real consensus about is that we can’t just go back to business as usual even if all things are equal.”

Financial impact: The loss from both school and Rep was $375,000 but there were off-sets because it costs more to produce than what is taken in at the box office.

Plans for fall and 2021: This summer Rep announced the cancellation of its 2020-21 season, with the hope of re-opening fall of 2021.

Lessons learned/changes ahead: “On a very practical level we now have the capacity to stream work so there’s a keen interest in that when we are back and are in the theater,” Bundy said. “This is a huge breakthrough.”

LONG WHARF THEATRE

Of note: Last year Jacon G. Padron became the new artistic director of Long Wharf Theatre. Last fall, Kit Ingui became the new managing director.

Closings began: On March 13, they cancelled a production that was about to open. On March 21, they cancelled the remainder of the season.

Change in organization: Reduction of staff from 65 to 22 full-time and three part-time people.

Financial impact: Approximately $750,000 of income lost.

In the meantime: Podcasts, newsletters, new play readings online.

Plans for fall and 2021: The 2020-21 season has been bumped to begin in the fall of 2021. Community programs are planned in the interim. “We are using this coming season to create work with our community, to recognize the abundance of artistic voices that exist and to find ways to amplify those stories,” says Ingui.

Lessons learned/changes ahead: “What is essential is to be more forward-thinking when looking at your finances,” says Ingui, “and that it’s essential there is some type of reserve that exists in your bank account.”

NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Of Note: Last year Alasdair Neale became the new music director.

Closings began: Last concert was March 5. Board cancelled future shows.

Change in organization: No one has been furloughed from the full-time staff. “We’re busier than ever because we’ve taken what we usually do and are re-imagining it online,” says CEO Elaine Carroll. “Music to fight social isolation, to support teachers who are teaching arts learning online. The musicians unfortunately haven’t been able to perform but we've done some fundraising around that issue, created a relief fund for them and received a $187,000 government loan, which we hope will be forgiven.

In the meantime: Podcasts and other online ways of teaching teachers and students music appreciation and instruments increased as well as music content online, with some new videos donated by the musicians.

Financial impact: “We lost $175,000 in revenue, but because the audience was incredibly generous we raised $48,000 for the musicians,” says Carroll. “The symphony is not going to go bankrupt. We worked very hard to make sure we had enough cash reserves in place for that rainy day fund — and it’s pouring.”

Plans for fall and 2021: Tentatively planning to return Jan. 21, but subject to guidance from health and government officials. “The chairman of our board is the COO of the Yale New Haven Health System so we don’t have to argue about the science. He just comes in and tells us what it is.”

Lessons learned/changes ahead: “Online content has not been an area that we put a lot of focus on but clearly the interest is there,” says Carroll. “Also, as the fourth oldest orchestra in the nation, we’ve been through a pandemic before. We’ll get through this one, too.”