Cumberland County Playhouse Laid Off 35

Cumberland County Playhouse laid-off 35 full-time and all part-time employees in a cost-cutting move forced by COVID-19.

The Playhouse cancelled all shows until May resulting in an estimated loss of $500,000 in ticket presales. CEO Bryce McDonald said 70 percent of Playhouse income comes from ticket sales.

“We could lose our livelihood,” McDonald said. “Something as powerful as the playhouse and other theaters in other counties could not be here by the end of it, if we don’t take every action to make sure it survives.”

McDonald said the remaining employees are senior managers and administration. The employees opted to cut their salaries in half in order to maintain the Playhouse.

“The playhouse is a business that operates on sale by sale, so every show that does not sell well, we take a financial hit that we have to try and make-up in some way, so cancelling three shows is huge,” McDonald said.

McDonald said the Playhouse cancelled all productions for “Duck Hunters Shot Angels,” “Flat Stanely” and “Nothing is Going To Stop Us Now.” This is the first time in the 55-year history of the Playhouse three shows in one season were cancelled.

McDonald said they are hopeful to perform ‘Clue’ and ‘The Savannah Sipping Society’ to limited audiences on May 1st.

“If we can clear everything by May, we hope people will be itching to get out of their house and see something to make them laugh and forget and have a good time ,” McDonald said. “We are hoping to provide that to them.”

Residents who wish to support the Cumberland County Playhouse can make donations on the theater’s website. The PLayhouse is offering people who bought tickets this season for a cancelled show the option to pick another play in the future to attend.