COVID-19 Impact Updates

*HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICES FOR PATRONS*

 

Release date: July 1, 2020 10:00 am EDT

Due to the cancellation of performances as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will be closing its Box Office for the duration of the summer. Further announcements about reopening will happen sometime after the Labor Day holiday.

Staffing will be limited during this time, but the company will be checking voicemail and email should you need assistance with ticketing. Please allow 3 business days for a response.

Requests for ticket donations or refunds can be submitted via email, and you will receive a confirmation once your transaction has been processed. Please note, refunds may take up to 30 days.

Future shows have not yet been scheduled and ticket exchanges cannot be accepted at this time. Please sign up for CSC emails to get the latest updates.

 

Release date: May 19, 2020 1:00 pm EDT

In conjunction with Governor Hogan’s announcement of phased plans for reopening in the State of Maryland last week, the Howard County Recreation and Parks Department issued a decision to cancel weddings, events, and gatherings of over 50 people through July 1, 2020. We held out hope as long as possible, but must now officially—and unfortunately—announce the cancellation of this summer’s production of Much Ado About Nothing at PFI Historic Park. We are heartbroken about not being able to perform outdoors in Ellicott City for the first time since 2003, our very first outdoor performance, but we’ll be back to share outdoor theatre you as soon as it’s possible.

Patrons with tickets have received communication from CSC with further instructions and options. If you have tickets and wish to take action, please email boxoffice@chesapeakeshakespeare.com or call the Box Office at 410-244-8570 Tuesday through Friday from 12 pm to 4 pm. Please note that we are currently still working remotely with limited staff so if no one is available to answer your call, please leave a voicemail for our team and a member of our Box Office staff will contact you within two business days.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Be well,

Ian Gallanar, Artistic Director and Lesley Malin, Managing Director

 

Release date: April 2, 2020 10:00 am EDT

Good morning.

We hope you are staying safe and healthy! There are no words—not even Shakespeare’s—that could express just how grateful we are for you (and all our patrons and friends) during this time. From your generous show of financial support, to your continued kindness and patience with our staff as we navigate the rapid changes in our workflow—you’re making it even harder not to be onstage doing great work for you right now. But that being said, in the interest of transparency, we need to address the proverbial elephant in the room…

In just two short weeks, public performances of Hamlet are supposed to begin, and yet, it is clear that we cannot proceed as scheduled. Our fierce intention is only to postpone, and not to cancel. While we are not giving up hope that you will find yourselves back to enjoying live performances in person sooner rather than later, we recognize we have a responsibility to consider multiple scenarios for the remainder of this season and next.

It is our great hope to bring you an updated schedule—including the 2020-2021 Season—within the next few weeks, but for now we must revisit previously planned programming, as well as reach out to the many artists we work with (and were slated to work with) to reimagine our calendar over the next several months.

If you can bear with us just awhile longer, we are working to bring all our patrons clear and concise information that will allow you to make informed decisions. Our next announcement regarding future shows will be made on April 22, 2020. Until that time, no action is required on your part other than to keep flattening that curve!

CSC is, and always will be, committed to exploring alongside you, with vibrant, innovative, fun productions, what makes Shakespeare so great. We look forward to bringing you a lineup brimming with stories that have long weathered tempests and continue to act as beacons of hope and humanity.

Thank you again for your patience and support.

Ian Gallanar, Artistic Director & Lesley Malin, Managing Director

 

Release date: March 24, 2020 10:00 am EDT

In accordance with directives issued yesterday by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will remain closed to the public in order to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Until we receive notice from state officials to resume standard practices, any business with our Box Office may still be conducted digitally during regular hours from Noon – 4 pm, Tuesday through Friday, which means:

Email is the most efficient means of communication during this time; however, if you would prefer, you may call our Box Office at 410-244-8570 and leave a voicemail to schedule a callback that includes your name, phone number, the best time to reach you during business hours, and the reason for your call so we can have the best representative contact you.

As a reminder, any patrons who had tickets for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) will be issued an account credit for the value of those tickets. This means you don’t need to take any further action until you’re ready to book seats for your chosen future performance anytime through our soon-to-be-announced 2020-2021 Season. If you would prefer to donate the value of your tickets back to the theatre, or take any other action including receiving a refund, please use one of the communication channels listed above.

As we’re sure you know, this situation is still developing on a daily basis. At this time, no firm decisions have been made about future shows, including Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing. We are closely monitoring all updates coming from our local and state officials, and will make decisions in as timely as possible a fashion. Don’t worry—you’ll be the first to know!
Thank you once again for your patience, concern, and support through these ever-changing times. Be well and we’ll see you at the theatre soon!

 

Release date: March 17, 2020 10:00 am EDT

Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to move to remote operations for at least the next week in order to keep our employees and artists safe and healthy, do our part to help “flatten the curve,” and to go over every nook and cranny of our theatre, offices, and classroom spaces with a good deep cleaning before you return.

Our Box Office Staff plans to return on Tuesday, March 24 to resume accepting inbound phone calls. In the meantime, we are conducting all business digitally during regular business hours from Noon – 4 pm, Tuesday through Friday, which means:

In order to help the flow of business, any patrons who had tickets for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), who we have not been in touch with, will be issued an account credit for the value of those tickets. This means you don’t need to take any further action until you’re ready to book seats for your chosen future performance—either this season or anytime through our soon-to-be-announced 2020-2021 Season. If you would prefer to donate the value of your tickets back to the theatre, or take any other action, please use one of the communication channels listed above, or give us a call beginning next Tuesday.

As we’re sure you know, this situation is rapidly changing day by day, and in some cases, hour by hour. At this time, no firm decisions have been made about any future shows, including Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing. We are closely monitoring all updates coming from our local and state officials, and will make decisions in as timely as possible a fashion. Don’t worry—you’ll be the first to know!

Thank you once again for your patience, concern, and support through these ever-changing times. Be well and we’ll see you at the theatre soon!

 

Release date: March 13, 2020 1:00 pm EDT

Friends, patrons, countrymen, lend us your ears.

We have all watched this current public health crisis unfold with great concern for our loved ones, our neighbors, our staff and artists, and the patrons and students we serve. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, both Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore City Mayor Jack Young called for a ban on gatherings of 250 people or more.

Thankfully, our theatre configuration has allowed us to already take steps to reduce seating capacity to below 200 in order to promote social distancing. However, we recognize the importance of doing our part to help “flatten the curve,” and after this weekend, we will be suspending remaining performances of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Further ticket sales have been suspended for this weekend’s performance and we will be switching to an open seating plan to encourage further social distancing through Sunday’s performance.

For any patron who has tickets to a performance March 13-15, we want you to feel safe and comfortable, and encourage you to make the decision to attend based on what you feel is best for your health and well-being. Our staff is still taking extra measures to clean and sanitize all surfaces, and we have plenty of sanitary supplies on hand. If you choose to use your tickets this weekend, you do not need to take any extra steps at this time. However, if you do not feel comfortable attending your ticketed performance, please take care of yourself and review the options outlined below.

For any patron who has tickets to a performance March 19-29, we are very sorry we won’t see you in the coming weeks and we ask for your patience as we first coordinate with audiences who have tickets for this weekend. You will receive an email with next steps, and we have several options available to you which will also be outlined below.

While we are sorry to have to shutter such a fun—and funny—show at a time we could all probably use a bit of levity (and we do hope to find some way to remount it later this season), we are confident this is the best decision for the well-being of our patrons, and our staff and artists. We would like to ask for your help, in turn, to ensure the well-being of CSC during this uncertain time.

Given current school closings, we have also had to suspend all student matinee performances in March of Romeo and Juliet, but are optimistic we can keep the Studio up and running, as class sizes are limited. We hope you will consider all the options outlined below and stick with us through this unprecedented time. We do not take these decisions lightly, especially given the immense social and economic impact of arts and cultural institutions having to go dark.

We know you have a lot on your mind at this time, so rest assured, if you’re unable to contact us right away, we will reach out once the dust has settled. We thank you for your continued support of CSC, its staff, and its artists during this time, and we very much look forward to seeing you soon!

Be safe and be well,

Lesley & Ian

OPTIONS FOR TICKET HOLDERS*

We are currently extending several options to our patrons with tickets for Complete Works, including:

  • Donate your tickets back to CSC to help provide much needed fiscal support for our artists who rely on your patronage now, more than ever.
  • Exchange your tickets to an upcoming performance of Hamlet or Much Ado About Nothing.
  • Exchange your tickets for an account credit towards single tickets or a subscription for our soon-to-be-announced 2020-2021 Season.

Our Box Office Staff is responding to phone calls and emails as quickly as possible to assist patrons with moving tickets and to ensure all your questions and concerns are addressed. Should you require a ticket refund instead, our Box Office is prepared to assist you.

CONTACTING THE BOX OFFICE

As you can imagine, we are experiencing extremely high call volume at this time. We will be extending Box Office Hours through Monday in order to assist patrons with tickets for Complete Works. Phones will be open:

Friday, March 13 until 5 pm
Saturday, March 14 from 12 pm – 5 pm
Sunday, March 15 from 10 am – 12 pm
Monday, March 16 from 12 pm – 5 pm

Phone lines are regularly open from 12 pm – 4 pm, Tuesday through Friday.
Our phone number is 410-244-8570.

If you do not need further clarification on your ticketing options or would like to schedule a callback, it is easiest on our staff for you to email boxoffice@chesapeakeshakespeare.com with your preferences and a good time for one of our staff to contact you in the coming days.

* Please note this policy only affects our current show, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). We will continue to keep abreast of developments to assess and address any changes for our upcoming productions of Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing at PFI Park this summer, so we are making the most timely and effective decisions for all.

 

Release date: March 13, 2020 11:00 am EDT

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company leadership will be issuing a full statement about the status of multiple programs shortly. Please be patient while we communicate with our many contracted employees and artists. In the meantime, sales for current mainstage programs have been suspended until further notice.

 

Release date: March 12, 2020

Given the recent announcements by Governor Larry Hogan and Mayor Jack Young, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will make an updated status report tomorrow morning by 11:00 am.

Thank you for your patience and support.

 

Release date: March 11, 2020

At Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, we take our mission very seriously. We are dedicated to bringing the excitement of Shakespeare and other classics to everyone who wants to experience the wonder of live theatre together in a shared space. Given the current climate, we understand that many people are being cautious about live arts and entertainment event attendance.

While no events have been cancelled or postponed at this time, we are monitoring the situation very closely, taking all necessary precautions, and will follow all government protocols. As state and federal officials have recently issued advisories regarding group gatherings, we are taking additional measures to make sure your ticket investments are protected, but are also asking for our patrons’ help in ensuring the continued well-being of our contracted artists as they stare down potential financial hardship should we face enforced closures.

We will continue to extend a flexible exchange policy and waive all exchange fees for the foreseeable future. For any patron wishing to delay their next live experience at CSC, we hope that you will consider donating your ticket(s) back to the theatre. This action will provide much needed fiscal support for our artists who rely on your patronage now, more than ever.

In exchange for your generosity, you will receive complimentary tickets for a future performance for the same quantity and zone you originally purchased, as well as a voucher for FREE parking in our partner garage for your return performance.

This offer is good for any performance at CSC during our 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 season and can be redeemed through July 31, 2021. If you are a current CSC subscriber, you will be able to apply the voucher for additional tickets to mainstage shows or use for add-on performances like A Christmas Carol or outdoor shows at PFI through next season. Should you require a ticket refund instead, our Box Office is prepared to assist you.

Our Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday, from 12 pm – 4 pm. Please call us at 410-244-8570. You can also email any exchange requests or questions to boxoffice@chesapeakeshakespeare.com.

At this time, this exchange policy only affects our current show, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). We will continue to keep abreast of developments to assess and address any changes in policy for our upcoming productions of Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing at PFI Park in Ellicott City so we are making the most timely and effective decisions for our artists, employees, and patrons.

We will continue to follow alerts and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Maryland Department of Health and local public health authorities, to safeguard your health and well-being.

CSC will continue to take the following steps to keep us all safe, including:

  • Sanitizing of handrails, doorknobs, and surfaces in our theatre, the PNC Family Room, and the Studio after each event;
  • Ensuring all restrooms are regularly stocked with hygiene-forward products like soap, tissues, and disposable hand towels, and providing liquid hand sanitizer as it is available;
  • Artists will forego mingling with the audience before and after performances—as well as at intermission—to promote social distancing;
  • Restricting sales of tickets on the 2nd Mezzanine for upcoming performances to keep attendance at each show around 200 to allow patrons to practice social distancing at their own discretion;
  • And advising all CSC artists, staff, board members, and teaching artists to follow all health protocols issued by the CDC and state and local governments, including staying at home and/or working remotely if they have any flu-like symptoms.

Please continue to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or visit our website, for updates to our schedule or to sign up for email alerts.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is committed to providing a healthy, welcoming environment for the students, families, artists, and audiences we serve. We thank you for your continued support of CSC, its staff, and its artists during this time, and we very much look forward to seeing you soon!

Ian Gallanar, Artistic Director & Lesley Malin, Managing Director

 

Release date: March 7, 2020

Dear Patrons,

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is committed to the health and safety of all our audience members, employees, and artists, and we want you to feel comfortable and secure when attending events in our theatre.

Though not issued by the Bard, we are firmly following other British words of wisdom during this time: Keep Calm and Carry On. And of course, we are also following alerts and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Maryland Department of Health and local public health authorities, to safeguard your health and well-being.

We encourage you to take recommended precautions like frequent hand washing to avoid the spread of any germs or staying home if you feel ill. We will provide personal health supplies as they are available for your convenience. Additionally, our housekeeping staff are taking extra measures to clean and sanitize our public spaces multiple times a day.
CSC is adopting a flexible exchange policy during this time so if you do not feel well or comfortable enough to attend a performance, please contact our Box Office at 410-244-8570 to exchange your tickets for a future performance.

As of this time, there are no planned cancellations, and all programs and performances will continue as scheduled. Please follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or visit our website, for updates to our schedule.

Thank you,

Ian Gallanar, Artistic Director & Lesley Malin, Managing Director