In response to coronavirus Covid-19, the Haugh Performing Arts Center postponed all performances until at least April 20 on March 12.
Among the closures on campus, a new version of “Cinderella” was postponed.
Third-year music major Wyatt Buckle finished rehearsing the major numbers along with the rest of the players in the musical. He was cast as Jean-Michelle. The character was new in the revival version of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein classic.
Like many of the student performers, Buckle was working on several productions set for the Haugh this semester.
“We still want to put the show on because of all the effort on all sides,” Buckle said. “Our shop has been building sets for months. The ensemble had all the music numbers.
Buckle is one of 54 student cast members in “Cinderella.” The group just finished rehearsing the major numbers and was preparing to perform separate acts of the play together at rehearsal.
Haugh director Tiina Mittler said outside professionals, staff and students also work in the running crew and build crew for the play.
“From a dollars-and-cents standpoint it wouldn’t make sense to move on with the show, but only have 10 people there,” Mittler said.
Box office workers contacted ticket purchasers to offer refunds. The Battle of the Big Bands between Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College on March 12 was also canceled because of concerns about the virus.
“These are student-centered performances,” Mittler said. “We very much have a responsibility to students to make sure we can reschedule those performances.”
The Haugh website says all performances will be canceled this semester. Gatherings larger than 250 people have been canceled in many colleges in L.A. County.
Mittler said the college is following the guidance of the governor who recommended gatherings to ten people or less. Other live entertainment contractors, performers and production companies who work with the Haugh will also be impacted.
“The economic impact to the Haugh Performing Arts Center is not completely apparent,” Mittler said. “We were up in ticket sales and attendance from the prior two seasons. This will be a blow because we’ve been refunding ticket sales the entire day.”
She said she hopes to recapture ticket sales in productions later this year.
“The cast was eager enough that if they have the opportunity to do it later this later this year or next semester, we’ll want to,” Buckle said. “I’ll have to wait to know. We’d all rather be healthy.”
Mittler said her department’s first priority is to keep people safe.
Up to 50% of the attendees at the Haugh are in age groups vulnerable to COVID-19. Mittler said retirement homes in San Gabriel Valley are consistent buyers in group ticket sales.
The World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic on March 11. Mittler said the Haugh would reassess its programming on April 20. She said student performances associated with classes may still gather to complete course requirements.
California Governor Gavin Newsom advised the public to withdraw from public performances until further notice.
“Everyone wants to have the biggest role, and I’ve had many big rolls at Citrus,” Buckle said. “Just performing in front of a large audience and being with a group of people who love to perform as well. There is nothing like the energy on stage.”
