Cuba libre ingredient

Victoria Sheridan/enterpriSe photo

Jori Gonzales, who plays Mary Poppins, lands on center stage amongst performers during a rehearsal of “Mary Poppins” by the Davis Musical Theatre Company in Davis, on Tuesday Sept. 7.

The show must go on ... and it did

By Anne Turnus-BellAmy Enterprise staff writer

After lifetimes spent in live theater, including the last 37 years with Davis Musical Theatre Company (which they founded in 1984), Jan and Steve Issacson were forced to do what so many have during the COVID-19 pandemic: Pivot.

With live productions — and live audiences — out of the question during the shutdown, the only way to keep going was to do everything virtually.

“We went from theater directors to movie directors,” said Steve Issacson.

And it’s something they hope they won’t ever have to do again.

The company had just finished its first week of “Camelot back in March 2020 and they were one day away from the opening of the youth production of “Junie B Jones Jr.” when everything shut down.

“We just thought it was going to be a week or two like everybody else and obviously that wasn’t the case,” said Issacson. “We shut down and put everything on hold.”

With the realization that the shut down wasn’t likely to end anytime soon, they contacted both season-ticket and singleticket holders “and nobody asked for a refund, which was really nice,” he said.

That’s when they decided to record shows virtually.

Among their virtual productions: “Cinderella” and “Shrek the Musical.”

see DmTC, PAge C3

Kimmie McCann, right, stage manager, explains how microphones will be placed on performers masks, with Beth Ellen Ethridge, left, during a rehearsal of “Mary Poppins” by the Davis Musical Theatre Company.

Victoria Sheridan/ enterpriSe photo