With some local artists and venues struggling to stay afloat financially in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, the local community theater remains optimistic the show will go on, eventually.
"I'm not really out there doing fundraising right now because we know that people in the community are struggling and we know that people are having financial problems because of unemployment and the negative effects of the COVID pandemic," said James Kendall, Pocket Community Theatre board president.
"So right now, the thing that I'm really focused on is reminding people that the Pocket Theatre is still here. You know, don't forget about us, we certainly haven't forgotten about you."
As far as the theater's schedule for 2020, Kendal said they were able to have one show in February before the pandemic forced them to call off the next show, "To Kill A Mockingbird." However, none of the shows have been canceled, but merely postponed.
"We have already built the set. We've got the actors cast. I mean, we were essentially ready to open 'To Kill a Mockingbird,'" he said. "So what we've decided to do is to keep that show on the schedule, whether it be August or, you know, whenever we're allowed to perform it safely.
"We feel, especially in today's times, with the social atmosphere that we have 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is more important today than it was six months ago, or even, you know, five years ago. It's a very important show. It's very close to our hearts as an organization. So we're going to do 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' we just don't know when."
As for the other shows scheduled for the 2020 season, Kendall said both "Steel Magnolias" and "Music Man" are scheduled now for the 2021 season. If the theater is able to open in August, "To Kill A Mockingbird," "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Elf" will all take place this year.
"We watch the governor's announcements, we stay very close to what's going on at a state level, and we're monitoring all of the announcements on the cases and the different phases of opening. So we really need to be in a position to open safely number one, but also we need to open when we're able to safely have an audience of 150 to 200 people," he said.
Kendall said several different factors prevent the theater from just running more shows and selling fewer tickets. The theater must pay out a percentage for every show they put on. As they do more and more popular shows, those royalties go up, he said.
"We would if it was cost-effective, but licensing and royalties, these days are so expensive," he said.
"In order for us to be in a position to at least financially breaking even, we've got to have a certain size audience. That's really going to affect really everybody that's in the entertainment industry, whether it be theaters or, music venues. Having a full house from a financial perspective is our best-case scenario. Having it a less than one-third capacity, we're not going to be able to afford to pay the bills for that show.
"What happens is, if we look to try to extend the number of performances, then we have to look at how does that affect the actors in the cast and crew. It's already a pretty good commitment being in a show, just for two weekends. That's a lot of time that an actor or an actress or anyone that's involved in a production has to commit. So extending that to a three-week run or a four-week run is really challenging, given the number of people who have to make sure that their schedules align."
From a financial aspect, Kendall said the theater is not in danger of closing at this point. Shows from their 2019 season such as "Chicago" brought in enough revenue to "keep them above water." However, if they are not able to resume shows in August, it will make the 2021 season much more difficult for the theater.
"We're doing everything in our power to make sure that as soon as it's safe to go, we're going to put on the highest quality performances. So for me, the biggest thing is to make sure that people don't forget about us during this time because I promise when we get to a sense of normalcy, the arts are going to be a very big part of getting back to normal," he said.
"Being able to go see a movie, being able to go to a concert, being able to go to a poetry reading, or being able to go to a theater and seeing the show. That's going to be a really important part of getting back to a normal life. And, you know, we're going to be ready when we get to that point."