A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT...
February 23, 2021, marked one year since we last presented a Touring Broadway production on the Bass Performance Hall stage. A lot has happened and changed in the past year…unexpected challenges and opportunities…health and safety at the forefront of our minds…but we look toward the future with hope and optimism.
While our industry continues to experience significant impacts as a result of this pandemic, I am hopeful that the performing arts will start to rebuild and rebound as we head into the fall.
I know you have many questions about what’s planned for this year and when we’re going to be able to present Broadway at the Bass productions again. My hope with this note is to provide you with a transparent and honest update as we have it today. Things continue to change and evolve as it relates to the timeline for when touring shows will be able to resume and get back out on the road. I hope I’m able to answer some of your questions below.
Why can’t touring shows go back out with limited capacity and social distancing in place?
Touring shows, including Broadway tours, need to have the ability to operate at 100% capacity without social distancing measures. The economic model of Touring Broadway doesn’t work with reduced capacity and social distancing. Additionally, producers of Broadway shows need to know that their show can play each city that’s on the tour route without any interruptions. It’s not financially feasible for the show to play a few cities, and then have to lay off a few weeks because other cities are not able to host indoor mass gatherings due to COVID-19 restrictions, including social distancing.
Update 3.3.21 - Performing Arts Fort Worth will be following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and industry safety guidelines for reopening performing arts centers. As noted above, producers need to have the ability to operate a contiguous tour across the U.S. under the same health and safety guidelines.
What will help determine when shows are able to resume touring?
The vaccine rollout will ultimately help determine the timeline for when Broadway tours are able to go back out on the road. Casts and crews of shows cannot gather to rehearse and tech until everyone in the company has been vaccinated. So until vaccinations are made widely available to the general public, the timeline remains fluid.
What shows remain on the current Broadway at the Bass season?
Currently, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (July 27-Aug. 1, 2021) and OKLAHOMA! (Aug. 10-15, 2021) remain on our calendar. However, in full transparency, we are already working on new dates for both shows and are in conversations with the booking agents about the feasibility of these tours being able to go back out this summer. We hope to be able to make a programming announcement about both shows in the near future.
Update 3.16.21 - Engagements of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (July 27-Aug. 1, 2021) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! (Aug. 10-15, 2021) have now been cancelled. We are working with the producers and booking agents to bring both shows back in the upcoming season.
No action is necessary if you purchased your tickets through the Bass Hall website, www.basshall.com, or Bass Hall Box Office. You will receive a refund for the face value of your tickets to your original method of payment. Your refund should post to your account within 60 business days. Those who purchased tickets through third parties will need to contact their points of purchase.
When are we planning to announce the new 2021-2022 Broadway at the Bass season? Will we be bringing back shows that we lost in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons?
Things continue to remain in a state of flux so we are intentionally waiting a little longer before we announce the new 2021-2022 Broadway at the Bass season. While we have dates held and a full season of shows planned for the new season, we want to wait until we have better certainty that dates and shows aren’t going to change again. There’s a real possibility that some of the shows we are holding dates for this fall will move again if tours aren’t able to start gathering to rehearse and tech this summer. And if shows push further out, it could mean we have more shows in the summer of 2022.
We plan to announce the 2021-2022 Broadway at the Bass season later this spring. The lineup will feature many of the touring productions that were previously scheduled prior to COVID-19, as well as a newly added hit show direct from Broadway. And as you know, we’ve already announced that the Fort Worth premiere engagement of HAMILTON has been rescheduled to Jan. 18-Feb. 6, 2022. Your original tickets to HAMILTON will be valid for the new dates. For more information on your HAMILTON tickets, please visit www.basshall.com/hamilton.
Update 3.16.21 - Good news is coming! We will announce the new 2021-2022 Broadway at the Bass season in early May. Keep checking your inbox for additional information in the coming weeks on how you can prepare and be ready as we lead up to the 2021-2022 relaunch announcement.
What happens if shows change again after we announce the new season?
Your ticket money is safe with us. We keep all ticket sales in a separate bank account and that money is never used for operating expenses. In the event of a future cancellation, you are guaranteed to get your money back.
What about my season tickets from the current season? Will I keep my same seats for the new 2021-2022 Broadway at the Bass season?
Yes, if you have season tickets for the 2020-2021 season, your seats will automatically rollover to your 2021-2022 season ticket package. Once we announce the new season and you renew your season tickets, you will keep your same seats.
What additional health and safety protocols are we putting in place to provide for a safe environment when we reopen?
As we plan to reopen later this year, we will have very stringent safety protocols and procedures in place to protect our patrons, staff and volunteers, as well as the staff and crews of our resident and touring companies. Our safety protocols and procedures will continue to be updated and adjusted to adhere to the latest health recommendations.
To get a sense of our health and safety reopening plans, please visit www.basshall.com/reopeningplans.
I hope this note helps to answer some of your questions. While Bass Performance Hall currently remains closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to work toward a phased reopening plan that will include a hybrid of streaming opportunities and limited capacity, socially distanced general admission performances, with the goal of full capacity performances this fall. We will continue to provide updates as we have them on our reopening plans, including the timeline for the 2021-2022 Broadway at the Bass season announcement.
I thank you for your patience, understanding and support. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Bass Hall to experience the magic of live theater together again.
Sincerely,
Dione Kennedy
President & CEO
Performing Arts Fort Worth