Gamut’s downtown Harrisburg theater
One of Harrisburg’s main theater groups has scrubbed the remainder of its spring season, canceling its regular programming at least until the fall.
Gamut Theatre Group today said it would not resume public performances until September at the earliest. This means that Free Shakespeare in the Park, held each June at the band shell in Reservoir Park, will not be held this year.
Founders Melissa and Clark Nicholson said they were taking the step in an abundance of caution.
“No one knows for certain when COVID-19 will reach its apex and how long it will take to come down off of that,” said Executive Director Melissa Nicholson.
Gamut already had cancelled public programming through April 30.
In addition to Free Shakespeare, the cancellation closes the remaining run of “An Enemy of the People,” which was being staged when the pandemic hit in March, and the Young Acting Co.’s production of “Cinderella.”
It also shutters Gamut’s summer programming, including the Gamut Theatre Summer Academy and the Popcorn Hat Players Children’s Theatre summer show.
Clark Nicholson said they will make futures decisions based upon developments in combatting the disease.
“Until a vaccine is developed, there’s going to be additional waves of this virus, which will make us reexamine what it means to put actors together onstage, and how we will congregate the audience in a safe way,” said Clark. “It’s going to be a slow, difficult period of trial and error.”
In the interim, Gamut has offered its building to city, county and state officials for community use should it be needed, according to a release from Gamut.
“It’s sitting there unused and won’t be utilized as a theater for quite some time,” said Melissa. “If it can be useful in any way for the purpose of combating the spread of the virus or helping sick people get well, we gladly offer it in service to our community.”
During the shutdown period, Gamut will explore alternative programming options, including a virtual online Gamut Theatre Summer Academy, master classes in Shakespeare study, and educational resources for teachers to use in their online classes, according to the theater group.
Since shutting its doors in March, Gamut has maintained an online presence. For example, each Wednesday a different Core Company member presents a talent, skill or interest to share with the general public through social media, and Clark Nicholson has added a new chapter each week to “How We Came to Run the Gamut,” published on Gamut’s website.
Gamut said that it is planning for the 2020-21 season with an eye toward “minimal expense and maximum safety” for all participants.
“Making the decision now to cancel through the summer gives us the time we need to re-group and rethink how to successfully plan for September and beyond,” Clark said. “When this is all over, people will have a great need to go out and gather in their favorite places. Our job right now is to make sure that there is still a Gamut Theatre to come back to. We have always been extremely creative in our problem-solving. And I think that may be our most important asset at the moment.”
For more information about Gamut Theatre, visit their website.
