Many OSF plays canceled because of COVID-19 outbreak

James Ryen and Kevin Kenerly in "The Tempest." Jenny Graham photo
July 21, 2022

Long-planned ‘Theatre on Film’ initiative launches on Friday on the O! Digital Stage

By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news

Several plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival have been canceled this week because of breakthrough COVID-19 cases and exposures.

Festival spokesmen said cancellations include this week’s performances of “The Tempest,” “Revenge Song,” “Dr. G’s Bingo Extravaganza!”, pre-play Green Shows and Wednesday’s performance of “Unseen.” Two plays, “Once on This Island” and “How I Learned What I Learned,” are being performed on schedule.

According to a festival news release, “Having discovered breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among its performing casts, crews, and extensive understudy pool, OSF has canceled this week’s performances” of the mentioned plays. In addition, also canceled or suspended are campus tours and education events.

“Given the fast-evolving nature of the current infection wave, OSF is monitoring the rest of the week’s performances closely and will update audiences as soon as possible if anything shifts. For up-to-date information, please visit www.osfashland.org/status,” the statement says.

OSF Artistic Director Nataki Garrett and Executive Director David Schmitz also explained the cancellations in a joint statement.

“Upon being alerted to this unprecedented number of COVID cases amongst our casts and crew, we immediately moved into action to ensure their health and safety through planning, re-planning, testing, and retesting for our artists and staff. The amazing OSF team has been prepared for this moment, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult as we rush to take care of so many amongst our amazing artists and crews who are sick,” they said.

Jackson County is currently experiencing a high level of community transmission of the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website on Thursday afternoon.The CDC recommends people wear a mask indoors in public; stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines; get tested if they have symptoms; and advise that additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.

“We take the decision to cancel performances very seriously and understand the impact it has within both our theater community and audiences, as well as our larger community, including the businesses that we rely on to feed and house our community. We always knew coming back from the pandemic that we had to stay nimble — that anything, including closures, was possible. We have worked to create a model that is responsive to this reality and adaptable to future realities.”

Since beginning as the festival’s artistic director in 2019, Garrett said she and the OSF staff “have made it a central priority to expand the definition of theater and radically broaden access to its transformational power.”

Before the pandemic, Garrett conceived OSF’s fourth official programmatic venue, the O! Digital Stage, which draws audiences from more than 50 countries. A new O! initiative, “Theatre on Film,” offers online watch parties featuring cinematic film versions of select 2022 shows hosted live by directors, playwrights, actors, and community members on an interactive digital platform. The initiative launches Saturday, July 23, with a live watch party of unseen, hosted by MENA Theatre Makers Alliance, followed on Friday, July 29, with a second live watch party of “unseen” hosted by playwright Mona Mansour and director Evren Odcikin. They will be joined by the acting company — Nora el Samahy, Helen Sadler, and Caroline Shaffer — in the question-answer session. Theatre on Film continues in October with “The Tempest,” “Revenge Son” and “King John.”

In a statement Garrett and Schmitz said, “We have proven these past 2-1/2 years that OSF is resilient. We are committed and ready to bring you life-changing and mind-expanding performances in a variety of formats to ensure access, comfort, and safety. We’re deeply grateful for the support that has made this possible. We look forward to welcoming audiences back to these productions and events, with health and safety as our top priority.”

Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Our Sponsors

Ashland Climate Collaborative Sreets for Everyone Ashland Oregon
Southern Oregon Repertory Singers SOU Music Recital Hall Ashland Oregon
ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum Summer Camp Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Crossword: Rock Around the Clock

This week’s crossword: 4 times for music (can you spot a local business?). Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next Friday’s crossword: “Grin and Bear It #02.” More crosswords under the Culture menu.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Ashland Community Composting Ashland Oregon
Southern Oregon Summer Camps and Activities Directory Ashland Medford Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon

Explore More...

This summer, a small group of local high school students will have the opportunity to learn about restoration of the Southern Oregon landscape and wildfire prevention.
Herbert Rothschild: Trump is only the latest Republican who has told working-class white males that they lost their power because women and especially peoples of color have been given advantages they didn’t have.
This week's crossword: 4 times for music (can you spot a local business?). Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next Friday's crossword: "Grin and Bear It #02." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
The Ashland Citizens’ Budget Committee Wednesday recommended a $373 million biennial city budget that avoids drastic cuts to parks and throws a lifeline to a preschool grant program.
Plans are moving ahead to replace the two oldest chairlifts at the Mt. Ashland Ski Area.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.