News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cumberland County Playhouse is preparing to announce a new summer schedule next week with two outdoor performances.
The Playhouse has been in close contact with local and state officials to discuss reopening options. CEO Bryce McDonald said at this time, their best option for social distancing is performing outdoors.
“The sad truth of it is no one truly knows a date when they believe mass gathering businesses will be able to reopen,” McDonald said. “We are in quite a holding pattern, which is very frustrating for our patrons as well as our staff.”
McDonald said limited performances could return as early as August. The main problem to returning indoors is limited ticket sells. McDonald said in order to practice social distancing, The Playhouse could only sell 60 tickets.
“I am in current discussions to try and figure out if we could get any of our fees lowered when we are able to reopen, that the licensing houses that gives us the rights for the shows are willing to help us out,” McDonald said.
70 percent of the Playhouse’s revenue comes from ticket sales. McDonald said to break even, they would have to sell around 250 tickets for the main auditorium.
During March, the Playhouse was forced to lay-off 35 full-time and all part-time employees in a cost-cutting move. McDonald said as of Monday, all employees were restored employment through a Paycheck Protection Loan.
“We are still not allowed to be in the building. All the offices are working from home, but theater is not as easy to work from home as other jobs are,” McDonald said.
McDonald said he does not know if the Playhouse could sustain the payroll once the loan runs out. The Playhouse cancelled all shows in April resulting in an estimated loss of $500,000 in ticket pre-sales.
