Scripps Ranch Theatre partnered with Oceanside Theatre Company to present a live Facebook concert featuring Nina Herzog accompanied by twin brother musicians Jack and Benny Lipson and percussionist/drummer Jonathan Pinson. (courtesy photo)
SR Theatre carries on
Amid the challenges presented by COVID-19-related concerns and restrictions, Scripps Ranch Theatre (SRT) had to get extra creative during an unexpected and extended intermission.
“Were on hold, we’re not closed,” said SRT Director of Public Relations Susan Clausen.
The theater had the play “Love Song” cast, rehearsed and were close to opening when orders went out shutting down large public gatherings. Since then, the theater has been sharing as many things online as it could. First, in early April, was an online reading of Casey Tibbitts’ “A Quiet Cross,” a coproduction with Oceanside Theatre Company. No tickets or prepayment were required, but viewers could donate to support the show and the theaters.
“It’s not the perfect medium for theater but it’s how we can story tell at the moment,” she said.
Next, was an online concert by singer and actor Luke Monday performing online with his pianist. An online concert featuring singer-actress Nina Herzog accompanied by twin brother musicians Jack and Benny Lipson and percussionist/drummer Jonathan Pinson was set for June 20. A live reading of the Paul Coates play “The Longer You Wait” is scheduled for July.
“It is definitely a different way to communicate,” she said.
She also thinks presenting theater virtually provides an opportunity for people seeking solace or relief in challenging times. Still, the theater expects to feel the pain of the lingering effects.
“Theater, as a whole, is very dependent on donations and grants, city funding that will drop, and that will affect us,” Clausen said. “We’ll have to revisit what kind of expenditures we can afford to put out and we’ll also continue to count on the support of the community.”
As for when things like community theaters will be able to reopen for in-person performances, SRT leadership is still trying to figure that out.
“A lot of this will be guided by law and also the response of the community,” she said. “What things will theaters have to install to make the pubic feel comfortable enough to come back? As big a question as, ‘what does our future look like?’ is ‘what is the community ready for?'”
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