Local theater adapts to pandemic shutdown

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) The coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters across the nation. Live performances have been cancelled and rehearsals have been put on hold.

Even Broadway shows in New York City have been suspended through May.

Here on the Central Coast, the coronavirus pandemic forced ARIEL Theatrical in Salinas to halt their production of School House Rock Live. The sets are still up in the theater, but until kids can come back to the stage, they’ve found ways to adapt and keep the magic of musical theatre going online.

ARIEL recently debuted two full online performances, including Super Happy Awesome News and A Christmas Carol radio drama.

Last march, the shutdown came as quite a shock and the theatre
company was hoping it wouldn’t last long. But as the situation progressed, Executive Director Heather Kirk tells KION they cut expenses and found ways to keep going by starting Zoom and online programs to keep kids engaged during a difficult year.

“Especially now with kids not being able to go to school, a lot of
distancing learning, a lot of disappointments, a lot of cancellations that
having something to do, something to focus on, something to work toward has been really crucial in the lives of kids and their families,” Kirk said.

The theater has been closed for almost a year due to the pandemic and has
relied on donations, grant funding and the community to continue.

The non-profit organization recently celebrated 20 years on Main Street.
Until they’re ready to open the curtain again, they’ll continue to offer
programs online and help young people learn skills they can carry with them on and off the stage, including accountability, respect and leadership.

Children are currently in rehearsals for a new show, called Could
You Hug a Cactus?, which will air on YouTube in mid-March.