Toronto’s theaters and concert venues are scrambling to rebook or reimburse customers after the province announced new capacity limits for entertainment venues.
Starting Sunday, all concert halls, theaters and cinemas will be limited to 50 percent of their capacity. The new rules, announced Friday, also apply to most indoor public settings, including restaurants, shopping malls and sports venues.
“We need to do everything we can to slow its spread as we continue to dramatically increase capacity to get as many booster shots as possible,” Prime Minister Doug Ford said in a statement issued on Friday. “Doing so is the best way to protect our hospital and intensive care units.”
The province had previously announced that only venues with capacity for more than 1,000 people would be capped at half capacity. Those limits went into effect on Saturday and the more extensive restrictions begin on Sunday, according to a spokesman for the Ministry of Heritage, Sports, Tourism and Cultural Industries.
Mirvish, the nation’s largest theatrical production company, announced on Friday that all remaining performances of the “Hometown Vacation with Naked Women” series would be canceled.
The award-winning rock band Juno began their 15-show residency at the CAA Theater in Mirvish on December 2. The performances were scheduled for December 23. All ticket holders will be automatically refunded, according to Mirvish’s website.
“We are concerned for the safety of our fans, theater staff and our team,” Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson said in a video posted to Twitter on Friday. “In speaking with doctors, friends and experts, we felt it would be irresponsible for us to play these shows at a time when we should all limit our meetings and exposure. We have loved the shows and were looking forward to the remaining shows, but sadly, we are going to have to cancel. “
Mirvish also announced on his website that the new restrictions will affect certain performances by “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Come From Away.”
Seating capacity in the touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which will run at the 2,000-seat Princess of Wales Theater through January 2, will now be limited to 1,000 at each performance for the remainder of the performance. of the Show.
Toronto’s production of “Come From Away,” which reopened at the smaller Royal Alexandra Theater on Wednesday after a 643-day pandemic-induced hiatus, will now be capped at 625 spectators per show. The hit Tony Award-winning musical, about various Newfoundland cities welcoming passengers and crew after flights were diverted after 9/11, is scheduled to run through March 13.
John Karastamatis, Mirvish’s director of marketing and communications, told the Star that ticket buyers have been contacted for the affected performances. So far enough patrons have voluntarily requested a refund or rebooked their performances and Mirvish hasn’t had to unilaterally cancel tickets.
Karastamatis notes that all productions scheduled for the new year are scheduled to go ahead as planned.
“We are examining the situation as it evolves,” he said in a statement to the Star. audience.
“At the same time, commercial theater is an economic activity that generates valuable jobs, both in theater and in businesses that have a symbiotic relationship with theater, such as restaurants, shops, hospitality businesses, tourism and transportation.”
in a cheep Aired on Friday, the National Ballet of Canada said all performances of “The Nutcracker” are sold out due to new capacity restrictions.
“Unfortunately, some tickets will have to be canceled,” the statement read. “Customers will be accommodated by order date.”
In a statement, the executive director of the National Ballet of Canada, Barry Hughson, said the new restrictions are not economically feasible.
“The pandemic has forced performing arts organizations to develop multiple planning scenarios to respond to an ever-changing crisis,” he said. “Performing at 50 percent capacity for an entire season of performances at the Four Seasons Center is not financially viable under any circumstances. A ‘normal’ season sees an average attendance of 85 percent to achieve a balanced budget. “
The James Kudelka-choreographed production of the holiday classic is scheduled to run at the 2,070-seat Four Seasons Center through December 31.
Live music venues are also affected by the new restrictions.
History, the newly opened concert hall on the eastern edge of town, he wrote in a cheep On Friday, ticket buyers will be contacted if their event is affected. Thursday, the place Announced which would postpone the December performances of the Canadian rock duo USS until June 2022.
At the nearby Opera music venue, Canadian band Intervals said in a statement Friday that it would postpone its scheduled show for Saturday.
“We would like to reiterate how heartbroken we are to not bring this production home to everyone in Toronto, especially after what has been an incredible tour last month, but unfortunately, this is the reality of the current situation,” said the band. . in the statement. “The Toronto show will be rescheduled for a future date and entries will be accepted.”
Unleash the Archers, a Canadian metal band, also canceled their performance at the venue scheduled for December 20.
With files from Akrit Michael.
Reference-www.thestar.com