An extended intermission; The Grand Theater further postpones season through November
By Wausau Times staff
WAUSAU – The Grand Theater has announced that that it will postpone major programming through the end of November.
The Grand stage has been dark since mid-March, and Executive Director Sean Wright said that it will be a little while longer before that programming resumes.
“As we prepare for our return of live performances, our focus is in the health and safety protocols needed to protect artists, staff, volunteers, and our amazing patrons,” explained Wright in a recently release video. “In doing so, it has become clear that we cannot return to business as usual anytime soon. To that end, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our season and other major programming through the end of November.”
Wright added that the large numbers in casts and crews, as well as the audiences, make it impossible to social distance in the historic theater.
Rescheduled shows include: Project Pink, Waitress, Truck Country 10×10 Series: Huntertones, The Secret Sisters, and The Fab Four.
Postponed performances include: Three Dog Night, Wynonna & the Big Noise, Home Free, Ron White, The TEN Tenors: Home for the Holidays, Judy Collins & Arlo Guthrie, plus many from earlier this year.
“For rescheduled performances, tickets will be valid for the rescheduled dates as they are announced. Patrons can also choose to have their tickets refunded, they can receive a ticket credit for an upcoming show or they can donate the amount of their tickets to support the mission of the Performing Arts Foundation/The Grand Theater, a nonprofit arts organization,” the venue’s website states.
“With nine months of cancelled and postponed events, the loss of revenue is over $1.1 million,” added Wright. “While we’ve made the necessary adjustments on expenditures, there is still a gap that we must address to keep moving forward to welcome (audiences) back to The Grand when the time is right to do so.”
The Grand on Tour
Though The Grand will remain dark on their main stage, the theater is offering online programs and live outdoor music in the city of Wausau through its “The Grand on Tour” series.
The tour will offer concerts on Timekeeper Distillery’s patio, at Whitewater Music Hall’s beer garden, and in Marathon and Riverside parks.
The outdoor venues allow for social distancing and face masks are encouraged. Limited seating is available at Timekeeper Distillery and Whitewater Music Hall; otherwise, attendees are asked to bring chairs and blankets.
For more information, find the Grand Theater Wausau on Facebook or visit www.grandtheater.org.