Delta Center Stage is postponing its planned summer opening to the week of July 16-19.
The opening was set for this week.
“We are pushing the dates back a few weeks as a safety issue,” said Delta Center Stage Executive Director Tim Bixler.
Bixler said DCS is considering technology that would help with purification of the environment in Jake and Freida Stein hall to make it safe for attendants.
“This, of course, is no magic bullet,” Bixler said. “People behaving irresponsibly in their personal contact with others can still spread, but at least, once installed, we can provide some assurances that the room won’t make you ill.”
The event will remain the same as planned previously to be as safe as possible for attendants.
“The design of this event, as a series of short plays, is also for safety,” Bixler said. “These short pieces require minimal rehearsal time, thus reducing personal contact between cast members, and generally have small cast sizes, further reducing personal contact.”
Bixler said there will also be changes to how the attendants participate in the event.
There won’t be a box office at the event or a set price for attendance.
“We are asking those in attendance to ‘pay what you can,’ with proceeds going to the E.E. Bass Foundation, our landlord, and the DCS operating fund,” Bixler said.
Those who plan to attend are encouraged to make a reservation by calling 662-820-5489. Chairs in the room will be socially distanced in groups of two or four. DCS management is also making the request (as a strong recommendation) that masks be worn at least minimally while patrons are out of chairs and circulating.
“These are uncertain times, but I am very confident that if we get all these things accomplished, the risks will be low,” Bixler said. “We are trying to do all we can to restart in the safest possible manner.”
The list of short plays to be performed include:
* “Downgrade” — A humorous comment on obsession and how it can take over our lives;
* “Just Listen” — An African-American woman in an office break-room defends a painted black Jack-O-Lantern as harmless to her virtue signaling white co-worker;
* “With Intent” — A play about how something surprising can change our lives (true love is based on very special things — sometimes not what we expect);
* “Choices” — A debtor burdened by crushing student loans is offered a way out ... but is the deal too good to be true?;
* “The Campaign” — A black advertising executive in a very white ad firm is challenged by a co-worker when he offers his opinion that a proposed ad campaign will be offensive to the African-American community;
* “Black Jesus” — A straight-forward and religiously conventional examination of a young black male’s concept of Jesus Christ;
* “A Few Adjustments” — Hilariously fast-paced duet between an auditioning young actress, and a casting director who is making the young woman work way too hard; and
* “Room 221” — A devastatingly honest gut-punch on the subject of High School Shootings.
