Idaho Shakespeare will open ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ June 28 after a weeklong COVID pause
Update June 27: Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” will open on Tuesday, June 28, after a weeklong pause because of COVID-19 breakthrough cases in the company.
You will find details below on how to reschedule your tickets if you haven’t done that already.
Updated on June 23: Idaho Shakespeare Festival will extend its production pause of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the company, until June 26. Things are “looking good” to resume performances on June 28, ISF marketing director and spokeswoman Hannah Read Newbill wrote in an email.
“It’s all moment by moment as you can guess but all signs point to Tuesday,” she wrote.
Check back for new developments.
The original story was published on June 17.
If you had Idaho Shakespeare Festival opening weekend tickets for “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” you’re going to be disappointed. The company will pause production of the musical for the first week of its run, which was slated to start Friday, because of breakthrough COVID-19 cases within the company.
ISF marketing director and spokeswoman Hannah Read Newbill says the company is hoping to be back on the boards by June 25, but they will have to wait to see how things play out.
“Due to breakthrough cases within our company, we will be canceling the performances of Ain’t Misbehavin’ from Friday, June 17 (Preview), through Friday, June 24. As a result, the first performance of the production’s run will be Saturday, June 25,” the festival posted on its Facebook page.
The festival has worked under strict COVID-19 precautions this season and last following Actor’s Equity and CDC guidelines, after canceling the entire 2020 season at the height of the pandemic. The company works in a bubble, with an entire company of vaccinated and boosted actors, stage and house crew, and artistic staff. No visitors are allowed during rehearsals, and masks are worn consistently.
This announcement comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified Ada County as one of three Idaho counties at high risk for community spread, driven by the omicron variant and its subvariant BA.2. The other counties are Elmore and Valley.
The CDC recommends people wear good-fitting masks over their nose and mouth when indoors, and avoid nonessential indoor gatherings and public activities. Also, contact a health care provider if you know you’ve been exposed.
If you have tickets for these canceled performances, the festival will send an email with a link to a ticket processing form. They have several options to resolve your tickets:
- Exchange your ticket(s) for an upcoming performance of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”
- Donate the value of your ticket(s) back to Idaho Shakespeare Festival.
- Request a refund of your ticket purchase(s).
This story was originally published June 18, 2022 at 9:12 AM.
