The show must go on STORY BY ANNESOPHIA RICHARDS
Everyone knows that in the world of theatre, the show must always go on. But what happens when one of the world’s oldest industries is suddenly brought to its knees by a global pandemic? In a time when large gatherings inside crowded auditoriums could be a matter of life or death, theatres across the nation are facing an unprecedented challenge. Instead of closing their curtains and turning out their lights, however, venues such as Thalian Hall and the Wilson Center in Wilmington are finding creative ways to keep the performing arts alive in our community. Having served as executive and artistic director of Thalian Hall for over 40 years, Tony Rivenbark has been around for many ebbs and flows of the industry. Nothing could prepare him, however, for COVID’s devastating effects on theatre venues all over the country. “So many theatres are closed, their assets sold and their doors locked,” says Rivenbark. “We don’t want to become that. Seventy percent of our income has disappeared, which makes it difficult to keep things going. But buildings don’t produce theatre, people do, so we can only cut back so much.” According to Rivenbark, Thalian Hall is operationally ready to reopen, having instituted an array of safety precautions and social distancing requirements including blocking off the seats, separating areas with ropes, and utilizing an outdoor ticket box. Thalian Hall has continued offering weekly films to small audiences inside the auditorium. However, with continued gathering size restrictions, indoor live performances are currently still on hold.
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