UPDATE: Performing Arts Centre postpones next few shows

“The safety and enjoyment of live performances by our patrons, artists, sponsors, staff and volunteers is of paramount importance to us,” said the Society’s executive director, Jim Harding. “As such, we have been closely monitoring COVID-19 developments and following the Public Health Agency of Canada and HealthLink BC for advisories and direction. We had also taken extra precautionary measures for all publicly accessible, backstage and ‘staff only’ areas, all door handles, handrails, washrooms, countertops, the hydraulic lift, balcony bannisters—which all get cleaned thoroughly normally—and all seating armrests for extra disinfecting. We also added hand-sanitizers for patrons as they entered the main foyer.”

The Society initially issued a public statement on March 12 stating that it was proceeding with scheduled public performances—especially on the heels of three large shows the preceding weekend and two days of school shows for more than 2,500 children, all without any inquiries or voiced apprehension from patrons or teachers; and after confirmation there were no pending local government restrictions on public use of cultural or recreational facilities. Two hours later the Province issued its advisory restricting public gatherings over 250 people.

“At this point,” Harding says, “we are now urging current subscribers, ticket and ticket voucher-holders for our Society’s SPOTLIGHT shows to hold onto their tickets and redeemable ticket vouchers for confirmation of re-scheduled performance dates as these will be honoured and existing seating guaranteed. Our Ticket Seller agents will be contacting ticket-holders directly as soon as new dates are confirmed.”

For promoters’ immediate upcoming touring concerts and performances and show-by-show ticketing policies, current ticket-holders and those wanting show information are directed to regularly check the Ticketseller.ca homepage listings and the added “COVID-19 Event Information Here” link for the latest Performing Arts Centre and show-by-show updates; or to call Ticket Seller at 250-549-SHOW (7469) to speak with a ticket agent.

“We are concentrating on the next few shows only at this point because it is unclear how long this ban will remain in place,” said Harding. “We are also monitoring other BC Presenters, as many are regular tour partners and a postponement in one theatre affects an entire tour, so re-scheduling is an involved process, but so far so good.

Harding added some smaller venues with less than 250 seats and festivals using 100-seat venues in the Lower Mainland intend to go ahead with public performances.

“We have three large shows over the next two weeks that are sell-outs or near sell-outs that we are currently re-scheduling, but the immediate loss of revenue will hurt in the short-term.”

The Performing Arts Centre seats 750.

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Performing Arts Centre rescheduling shows (March 13)

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre is having to make changes due to new provincial guidelines banning large public gatherings of 250 people or more.

“The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society will abide by this advisory in the interest of public health and is currently working with those artists and promoters to re-schedule their immediately upcoming performance dates,” said executive director Jim Harding.

All current subscribers and ticket or voucher-holders for the Society’s own SPOTLIGHT shows are asked to hold onto their tickets or vouchers for confirmation of re-scheduled performance dates as these will be honoured.

For all upcoming concerts and performances and ticketing policies, check online regularly for updates at Ticketseller.ca, or call the society’s Ticket Seller box office at: 250-549-SHOW (250-549- 7469).

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Performing Arts Centre continues with shows amid virus issues (March 12)

All the shows are still a go at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre despite coronavirus concerns.

That includes the scheduled concerts, performances and other events.

Executive director Jim Harding said the safety and enjoyment of their patrons, artists, sponsors, staff and volunteers is of paramount importance to them, and as such, they are closely monitoring developments around COVID-19.

He said they are following federal and provincial recommendations, advisories and direction.

“We are also in close contact with the B.C. Touring Council and managers for artists touring B.C. and under contract. At this point, any cancellations that may occur over the coming weeks and days would be at the discretion of the artists out of their own concern for COVID-19,” he said.

Any ticketing policies and re-bookings would be negotiated between the Performing Arts Centre and artists’ representatives. Show by show updates, if applicable, would be posted to the Ticketseller.ca website.

“We are also pro-actively assuring scheduled tour managers of our current situation and extra measures we have already implemented,” Harding said. “All publicly accessible, backstage and ‘staff only’ areas, all door handles, handrails, washrooms, countertops, hydraulic lift, balcony bannisters and all seating armrests — which all get cleaned thoroughly normally — are all receiving extra disinfecting. We have also added hand-sanitizers for patrons when they enter the main foyer.”

The Performing Arts Centre has successfully continued with the Society’s own SPOTLIGHT Season presentations, school shows and visiting tour performances since the onset of COVID-19.

“These have been well-attended and without any concerns directly expressed by patrons to front-of-house staff or our ticket agents until today, when we began to receive calls as a result of all the news coverage and whether shows have been cancelled, so we felt it was appropriate to issue a public statement that public performances will continue as scheduled,” Harding added.

Details of visiting concerts tours and special events can be found on Ticketseller.ca.

by Pete McIntyre

UPDATE: Performing Arts Centre postpones next few shows

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