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Cookeville’s Performing Arts Center returns to the stage this Friday.
The center will begin with performances of the political comedy State And Church. Cookeville Cultural Arts Superintendent Chad McDonald said this is the first performance since March.
“We have not been able to do live theater for quite a while,” McDonald said. “We have done some online and streaming video theater, but this is actual live actors onstage with a live audience. It is going to be a relief to see that again here at the Performing Art Center.”
McDonald said only 100 seats will be available and mask will be required on entry. Performances will stretch until August 22nd. Concessions will not be available.
“This is a backstage production,” McDonald said. “If you have been to a backstage production, they realize we have limited seating anyways. Less than 100. Typically, the audience sits on stage with the actors for backstage productions. However, with the current state of affairs and the guidelines in place, we can not do that. So, we are doing this as a main stage production.”
Performances dates include August 14th, 15th, 18th, 20th, 21st and 22nd at 7:30 p.m. and one matinee on August 16th at 3:00 p.m. The capacity for the Performing Arts Center is 456 seats.
McDonald said the center will still break even with the limited seats. The performances are budgeted for around 100 patrons. McDonald said social distancing will be practiced and the auditorium will be sanitized between each performance. Once seated, masks will not be required.
“We are just glad to be able to produce live theater again,” McDonald said. “We know it is going to take the audience sometime to come back as well. There might be some concern about coming to a show with other people.”
Tickets are available each evening before showtime by calling (931)-528-1313 or visiting the Performing Arts Center’s website.
