Scene

After a year of coronavirus restrictions, Chico Theater Co. is poised to to welcome back indoor audiences

protection loans that totaled about $50,000. We’ve applied for other grants—the Aaron Rodgers one again, California Arts Council for $15,000, and I just this morning finished the SVOG, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. It’s for all kinds of venues; they’ll reimburse up to 45 percent of lost income in 2020. So, I just finished and we would qualify for $150,000 if we get it. Are you excited? May 21 can’t get here soon

When Chico Theater Company shut enough. I want to just look out at down last summer after the state all those faces, socially distanced put COVID-19 restrictions in place to as it may be. We’ll still be able to keep people from gathering in groups, get, I imagine, probably 70 people Executive Director Marc Edson found in [as compared to 200 capacity]. himself, like so many others, unemployed during a pandemic. Without an audience or a company of players to tend to, the nearly lifelong Chicoan (he moved here at the age of 7) did by Jason Cassidy I know your theater was touched by COVID-19. John Fuller, one of your players, died from the disease in January. What was your relationship with him? John had done, I think, four shows with us. Lovely man, just jasonc@ newsreview.com what a local does with empty sumloved theater. I didn’t even know he’d gotten sick, and all of a sud-

Preview: The Ladies Foursome Thursday-Saturday, mer days in front of them—he floated down the river. den I heard from one of his daughters that he’d passed away. I spoke at his service, and we had four or 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, 2 p.m., May 21-June 6. The show will be All told, he went tubing 19 times. five actors there. It really made it very real. staged indoors with current COVID-19 guidelines in place. If mandates require, performances will moved to the outdoor By fall, however, he was sufficiently rested and ready to get back to work. Edson said that you’re back. I’ve missed you so much.” It’s been busy, but a very heart-touching time. How has the theater been able survive the How well do you think the art scene will recover after the pandemic? It’s taken quite a hit, you know, with the Blue Room losing their space. … I think it’s going to

“Starlight Stage.” that the absence of pandemic? come back. From the response Chico Theater Co. 166 Eaton Road, Ste. F 894-3282 theater was painful for the company, so they decided Luckily, most of the seasonticket holders donated back their tickets—to the tune of probably I’ve seen with ticket sales just in this last week and a half, I’m very excited people are willing to come chicotheater to take advantage about $50,000—and that was a back. Plus, we [have] sold about company.com of the stipulation big help. And then a lot of people 250 season tickets, and 35 percent of outdoor shows being allowed. A stage was built, and a drive-in style theater was arranged in the parking lot behind the building. It only lasted for two shows, but the new setup gave Edson a potential backup. on the horizon as he looks forward to the Jun 15 date that Gov. Gavin Newsom has set for all businesses in the state—including theaters—to fully reopen. between every party. We’ll have people wear masks until they get to their seats. I think that will cover us. How do you think people will react to inperson experiences after so long? gave financial donations during this time. We did get two of the payroll of those had never bought season tickets before! Ω

He’s hopeful that he won’t need it. You just announced a new season. Is this your We saw a taste of that in [the] Last month, CTC announced a five- normal full slate of plays? fall when we did those two shows, show season that will open with The Normally we have eight shows; you know, people sitting in their Ladies Foursome on May 21, which this year we’re doing five. I just lawn chairs watching it, they were will likely make it the first local perfor- finally said, “I’m done. I’m going to almost in tears for just being able to mance company to open its doors since find shows that, if I can’t do them be back and to watch shows again. the pandemic closures. Butte County inside, I’ll do them outside in the We’ve started selling season is in orange tier of the state’s recovery back parking lot.” Then, right about tickets, and everyone who calls is program, which has been amended to that time, things loosened up. So, like, “Oh my god, I’m so happy allow theaters to host socially distant [the plays] are adaptable either way. audiences up to 50 percent of capacity. But we are planning on May 21

The CN&R sat down with Edson in with opening inside. We’re going the CTC lobby to talk about how the to do the social distancing. We theater has survived and what might be blocked every other row, two seats

The opening curtain

The Snake (Jeff Dickinson) offers the forbidden fruit to Eve (Holly Quick) in The Diaries of Adam and Eve, an October 2020 production staged outside in the lot behind Chico Theater Company. Above: The cast of The Ladies Foursome rehearsing at Chico Theater Co. From left: Kathy Robinson, Lisa Saldano, Christine Buckstead and Sandy Huseth.

PHOTO BY MARC EDSON Left: Executive Director Marc Edson sits in the auditorium of his Chico Theater Co., which hasn’t held an audience in roughly one year.

PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

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