The in the St. Louis region is leading some local arts organizations to postpone or cancel events scheduled for this month.
Arts leaders said Wednesday they are concerned that their existing safety protocols, including a requirement that audience members and artists wear masks and show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, may be insufficient to counter the rapid spread of the omicron variant as regional case numbers peak.
鈥淲e decided, as a result of those rising numbers, that even though we had all those protocols in place, that it was probably better for us to postpone our production 鈥榯ill the summer,鈥� said Brian McKinley, an actor and executive assistant at the Black Rep.
To help protect its employees and audience, the Black Rep moved its production of "Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea鈥� from January to July. It still plans to produce the next show on its schedule, 鈥淔ireflies,鈥� in February.
Health officials say the current spike in cases may subside in coming weeks. Leaders at organizations hope to resume live performances when that happens.
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced Wednesday that it is postponing its screening of 鈥淗arry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,鈥� accompanied by a live score, from this weekend to April. Events in the film score series are among the orchestra鈥檚 most popular programs.
The SLSO canceled two concerts earlier this month, postponed another, and changed the program of another to a chamber music format, due to an unspecified number of musicians quarantining after having close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.
The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries postponed Saturday鈥檚 performance by vocalist Dianne Reeves to April. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis moved its production of 鈥淭he 39 Steps,鈥� which was due to start performances this weekend, to April. It is continuing rehearsals for its next show, which is still scheduled to open in February.
St. Louis Art Museum will be closed until February due to coronavirus cases among its staff.
The string of postponements reminded some of the early days of the pandemic, when local officials instituted bans on public gatherings to slow spread of the virus.
鈥淚 may start writing 2020 on my checks again. It鈥檚 such deja vu,鈥� said Edward Coffield, artistic director of New Jewish Theatre.
The company was due to present its first full production since the start of the pandemic, with performances of 鈥淟aughter on the 23rd Floor鈥� scheduled to begin Friday. The show will move to February at the earliest.
The disruptions are difficult for organizations that recently began producing events again after a long layoff.
Moonstone Theatre presented its first-ever production in November and planned for another to begin Feb. 17. The revised date is March 24.
Moonstone Producing Artistic Director Sharon Hunter also founded the St. Louis Theatre Community Task Force in 2020, and safety protocols. She said it鈥檚 particularly difficult to reschedule a show after beginning the preproduction process.
鈥�You鈥檝e got everything going and you鈥檙e employing people, you know, you鈥檙e working on designs and you鈥檙e working on everything,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy, but I鈥檝e got to say it鈥檚 the right decision for right now.鈥�
Follow Jeremy on Twitter:
