Idaho Shakespeare Festival cancels two more plays but hopes to return. Here’s when
The world of Shakespeare production is no stranger to the idea of pandemic. In the height of the Elizabethan era, which gave birth to Shakespeare’s plays, theaters were routinely shut down because of outbreaks of disease.
In that time, it was was the plague. Today, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and other theaters around the globe are dark because of the coronavirus pandemic.
While most Boise performing arts companies are focusing on fall and their respective 2020-21 seasons, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival — one of the state’s largest and most beloved performing arts groups — has been grappling for months with decisions about moving forward this summer in light of the dangers.
Producing Artistic Director Charlie Fee told the Statesman that it was a wait-and-see situation back in April, and that he had several contingency plans. He has been keeping his patrons in the loop via videos on ISF’s Facebook page.
In May, he informed them that the season’s first two plays — Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” originally slated to open in May, and Richard Maltby Jr.’s and Murray Horwitz’s musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” set for June, were canceled.
Earlier this week, he broke the news that the company’s new production of “Henry V” and a musical “Emma,” based on the Jane Austen novel, both are canceled for this season as well.
“They are large-cast, new productions for us, which would mean long rehearsal periods,” Fee said. “For those reasons we can’t keep our actors, designers and production staff safe when we come back together in the rehearsal room and shops to build those shows.”
The artists are heartbroken, but they understand the decision, Fee went on to say. ISF also closed down its season at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, which performs two ISF and Great Lakes productions each summer. Cleveland’s 2020-21 season still is a wait-and-see situation.
Tickets for any show that has been canceled can be refunded through the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s box office. Or you can donate them to the company.
Good news, maybe
The September production of Anthony Shaffer’s “Sleuth” is still on the table, Fee said. It was created and performed as part of the Festival’s sister company of Great Lakes Theater’s season in Cleveland. So it’s possible — but not certain — that the production could still happen this fall, with precautions.
“Sleuth” is a small cast of five, so they can distance backstage and on stage. The sets and costume are done and the rehearsal period would be shorter, and could happen on the outdoor stage. The company also must work with Actors’ Equity and other performing arts unions to ensure the safety of cast and crew.
“The next challenge is that we as an audience and staff are able to create a safe environment at the festival theater,” Fee said. “It’s outdoors, so that helps. We can distance people in the theater at about 50% capacity.”
There would be no food service and safety protocols such as masks and social distancing would be used.
Shakespeare Festival fans will just have to stay tuned.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 2:45 PM.
