DEKALB, ILL., May 21, 2020 — Faced with the increasing likelihood of needing to cancel the remainder of our current season, Stage Coach Players has decided to move the majority of our 2020 productions to 2021. Casts and crews will remain intact, to the extent that they can, and patrons will have the option of carrying over their season tickets to next year. \
Our response to the pandemic began in March when we canceled Big Fish two weeks before its scheduled opening. We had hoped no further cancellations would be necessary, but health and government restrictions made it simply not possible to prepare and rehearse our productions. Even if those restrictions are reduced in the coming months, the most responsible plan for the health of our members, patrons, and community is to continue waiting in the wings.
This year’s season will be replicated in 2021, beginning with the musical Big Fish; followed by Auntie Mame; Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; Matilda: The Musical; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The Red Velvet Cake War; and Sweeney Todd. The dates of those rescheduled performances are to be determined, pending licensing approval. For the time being, we are still planning to produce Elf: The Musical this December, though that may also move to 2021 depending on pandemic conditions.
Season ticket holders will receive a letter soon from our Box Office with ticketing options. Those alternatives include (1) moving your tickets to next season; (2) receiving a refund; or (3) donating the value of your tickets back to Stage Coach Players. The generosity of our patrons has already been incredibly humbling. We thank everyone for their support. Please know that we are also thinking of you during this difficult time.
While we are disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to present our season for your enjoyment this year, we are thankful that our talented production teams — from directors to actors to backstage crews — will have their much deserved opportunity to entertain you in 2021. In the meantime, we intend to continue finding ways to engage with our audience via social media, with several digital performance ideas being discussed. If ever there was a time when people need live entertainment, this is it! We will play our parts by bringing you those experiences, and we hope you’ll join us!
Information about upcoming alternative performances will be announced on our website, www.stagecoachplayers.com. This is also where you can discover technical and acting opportunities for next season, as 2021 approaches.
