RMTC postpones first two shows of 2020-21

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This article was published 11/06/2020 (2282 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The staff of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is, presumably, sad as hell.

They have had to postpone their first two mainstage shows of the 2020-21 season until next year. The season opener, Network is an adaptation of the Paddy Chayefsky-scripted film of the same name, and was to have run Oct. 15-Nov. 7. The popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music was the theatre’s designated holiday show, slotted for Nov. 26-Dec. 19.

The shows were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s favourable COVID numbers might have held the promise of a reprieve, but the company’s hand was forced, since both shows were to be produced in association with Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, which announced Tuesday it was cancelling all its shows before 2021.

“I’m heartbroken that we can’t deliver the full lineup that I envisioned and presented as my first as artistic director,” said Kelly Thornton in a statement.

“Unfortunately, without our co-producing partners and with the continued uncertainty surrounding COVID, we have no alternative.

Both shows required inter-provincial travel, Thornton said, “and with the increased risks to performers involved in staging a musical, it’s no longer viable to present them.

“I remain committed to both of these productions and I look forward to bringing them to our stage safely in the fall of 2021.”

RMTC has not cancelled or postponed its fall Warehouse shows, including Pamela Mala Sinha’s world première production New (Nov. 5-21), which tells the story of Sinha’s parents moving from India to Winnipeg in 1970, and The Wolves (Dec. 3-19) a Pulitzer Prize finalist set on the pitch for a teenage soccer team’s weekly warm-up.

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The Winnipeg Fringe Festival was cancelled months ago, but RMTC is hinting over social media that fans may be able to get a fringe hit online this July.

A notice on RMTC’s social media said: “We’re figuring out a way to get everyone their fringe fix from July 14-17.

“We’re offering a free online mini-festival featuring some of your favourite fringe artists, along with interesting panels, fun games and more.

“We’ll share the full lineup on July 6. We can’t wait to see all our Fringe Fans!”

— Randall King