The Evanston 2nd Act Players is postponing until November its previously scheduled spring showcase of nine short plays under the theme 60 is the new 40 . The showcase was scheduled to run from May 2-24 with rehearsals starting next week.
“The health and well-being of our cast, crew and audience is paramount to us. Given the calls from the governor of Illinois and the mayor of Evanston, we felt postponing our show was the only choice. While our theater holds less than 100 people, we prefer to err on the side of caution in these difficult times,” said 2nd Act Players’ Co-founder John N. Frank. “Our audience traditionally skews older, exactly the target group most at risk of serious consequences from acquiring the Coronavirus. We would never put them in harm’s way.”
“Because we are a seasonal theater, this effectively wipes out half our season and half our ticket revenue. We are offering full-season sponsors half their sponsorship dollars back as well,” said Frank.
“While this will obviously hurt us financially, we do not depend on our theater for our financial livelihood. Our heart goes out to our theater compatriots — actors, directors, crew and theater executives we have come to know from our membership in the League of Chicago Theatres — who are losing so much more with their current shutdowns.”
The Evanston 2nd Act Players performs at the Logan Hall Theater at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston. The church this week decided to close its facilities to all events until March 25.
“Our theater’s mission and message has always been about 2nd Acts — the idea that people can carry on after tragedy, loss, heartache — and yes even pandemics. So we will be back in November. Come see us then,” said Frank