The show must go on with caution: Sumter performing arts community hesitant to reopen after restrictions were lifted

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Sumter’s arts community was one of the few that spent the longest time waiting for their world to restart since performance venues were among the first to close amid the pandemic.
They were projected to be one of the last to reopen to the public after Gov. Henry McMaster said theaters and concert venues will remain closed in late June, but the governor gave them the thumbs up on Aug. 3, allowing them to finally open their doors again.
Even though the performance arts are allowed to reopen with capacity limitations, some of Sumter’s entertainment venues and events are still on hold, waiting for local government’s approval.
Seth Reimer, cultural director for the Sumter Opera House, said they are currently waiting on the City of Sumter to authorize the opera house’s reopening to the public.
Until then, the opera house will not share its event schedule for the fall and remain closed, but Reimer said they’re working on getting a schedule set soon with shows planned for the coming months.
Though the Sumter Opera House doors will remain closed, Reimer said they will be creating a special night of live entertainment for members and sponsors who supported the venue throughout these hard times.
On Aug. 28, members and sponsors will be able to attend a live, interactive event via Zoom with cellist and singer-songwriter Shana Tucker and magician Joshua Lozoff.
Sumter Opera House members and sponsors are advised to watch their email inboxes for an invitation to the virtual event.
Another downtown Sumter favorite that has been missed by community members are the Fourth Fridays concert events, which run from May through September. The Main Street events drew crowds for summer night live entertainment, but the street has remained quiet throughout the coronavirus.
With concerts being allowed to start back up again, there are two months left for this year’s Fourth Fridays series, but Leigh Newman, downtown development coordinator, does not know whether they will salvage the events this year.
“We haven’t decided yet about our last two Fourth Friday concerts of the season,” Newman said. “While they are outside events, it would be difficult to limit attendance to a concert on Main Street to allow for social distancing.”
If the city decides to hold the events, Newman said they will post information on social media, or people can contact her with questions at lnewman@sumtersc.gov.
Todd Warrick, board president of Sumter Little Theatre, said they will also not be returning to normal operations following the restriction that has been lifted but came with a requirement for theaters, venues, arenas and other large group gathering events to limit capacity to 50% or 250 people, whichever is less, and mandate masks.
“The board and staff agree that a return to normal operations, even with audience masking and social distancing, is not appropriate at this time,” Warrick said. “We really can’t perform in masks. Singing, dancing, even projected speech all increase breathing and the potential for viral spread.”
However, Warrick said the board and staff of SLT have three “outside-the-box” projects in the works for the fall season.
The first project will be a youth musical production called “The Show Must Go Online.”
“In lieu of in-person classes for our drama school, we plan to utilize this production as the basis of our elementary and middle school instruction,” Warrick said. “This work is designed to be rehearsed and performed online.”
According to Warrick, Kendall Jones will be spearheading this project, and more details will soon be announced.
The second project for the holiday season will be an original, collaborative work, Warrick said. Each scene will be written and performed by an individual or small group, and each will connect back to a central theme of the traditions and not-so-traditional traditions that make Christmastime special.
Warrick said this production is expected to be performed on the SLT stage with a live audience. Details are still being determined.
The third project will be an outdoor cabaret evening, where SLT performers will entertain with songs and scenes, Warrick said. They are currently looking into dates and venue options to allow for appropriate distancing and safety measures.