Delta Center Stage makes its 2021 debut performing a collection of poems called Blessings from the Pandemic with three performances starting Friday night and ending Sunday afternoon.
New York poet Rich Orloff wrote the poems in the first few months of the pandemic in 2020. The poems will be read by nine actors from the main stage in Jake and Freida Stein Hall.
The performance is the first in more than a year for DCS and was chosen specifically for its message and ease of production.
“I was attracted to the title because of its timeliness and the immediacy of the subject matter related to the current conduct of our daily lives,” said DCS executive director Tim Bixler. “If this project works out as I envision it, this will be the fond farewell that we can all wave to this insane period in our collective existence.”
The performance will be shown to a live audience with precautions in place, including a significant investment in an air purification system to help keep patrons safe.
“Let’s all get together and celebrate what we can, commemorate all those quirky behaviors that make us laugh, remember those who we’ve lost, and get on with life as it should be lived: Free from fear, free from rules that come from nowhere, and free from isolation and loneliness,” Bixler said.
The seating area at Stein Hall will allow for social distancing and the nature of the performance will see a reduced crowd.
“There will be signage prominently placed asking everyone to arrive in protective gear, and to adhere to the current wisdom about distance and contact,” Bixler said. “The seating arrangements will be such that those who call ahead with seating requests, and wish to group together, may do so without wearing masks while seated at their option. At any time while circulating, arriving or departing, we kindly ask that all of our guests and friends adhere to common rules regarding masks and protective behavior.”
The show opens at 7 p.m. Friday and runs again Saturday night and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The show will also be live streamed on Facebook. There is no set admission charge as patrons are asked to pay what they can.
For the first time in its history, DCS will make each performance available live on Facebook. This offering of a virtual experience is more than an afterthought. This virtual feature is a licensed performance subject to restriction, and a significant fee was paid for this outreach. It will only be available as a simulcast at the same time as the live performances.
For more information, visit deltastage.com or call 662-378-9849.
