Summer 2022 programs cancelled given Covid’s continuing presence
** Possible adult-and-youth community theater Wisconsin July-August 2022
March 14 Update for Summer 2021
Because Covid-19 continues to be a presence in our communities, we have decided not to offer summer theater programs this year.
While we realize it would be conceivable to do so, we felt the risks and downsides were too strong to go forward. Those include
—The risk of one of our campers, families, or staff contracting COVID
—The participant experience once you factor in all the pods, masks, isolation, and limitations on both our camp days and our performances
—The uncertainty in all three states with shifting guidelines for camps and schools on the federal, state, local, and venue level
—The heartbreak we all could feel should we go forward with a program if it were to be cancelled, either prior to or during the camp; or to lose a camper or a pod of campers if there were a COVID-related quarantine during camp.
We realize that cancelling 2021 will mean that should we run programs in 2022, it will have been three years since our last summer programs, which in a way will mean starting from scratch. Still, we feel this is the course most in integrity with both our priority on camper safety as well as our high aspirations for camper experience.
Portland families looking for theater experiences might check out Northwest Children’s Theater and Oregon Children’s Theater, both of which offer online experiences (and possibly live ones).
Central Vermont families can check out the Chelsea Funnery (at this time planned as a mix of in-person and online), or the Chandler Center for the Arts musical (ZOOM/film, I believe)
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July 11 Update for autumn theater programs
Due to the uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 virus and schools’ still deciding upon their structure this fall, Inspirations Theater has decided not to run theater clubs this autumn 2020. While we’ll miss the kids and their energy, we want to safeguard the health of the children, their families, and the community.
There is the possibility of clubs being run in early 2021—check back in November / December for updates.
June 2
It is with some regret that Inspirations Theater has decided to cancel its summer 2020 theater offerings. After looking over the state COVID-19 guidelines for youth and brainstorming possible ways to still run a theater program, with everything going on we decided we couldn’t guarantee the safety of our participants, their families, or potential audience members. While we explored online activities and super-socially distanced outdoor possibilities, we ultimately decided that these wouldn’t meet our standards for participant experience.
Inspirations’ commitment is to offer rich, rewarding, uplifting theater. We look forward to a time where we can do that again in the future.
Sincerely,
Torsti Rovainen
Director, Inspirations Theater
April 15th Program Updates
—Wisconsin program—cancelled.
—Portland Oregon programs:
Enrollment / program call scheduled for July 1st. We will either
1) run a 5-day shortened program for 8-18 years olds July 21-25
2) cancel for 2020
—Vermont program
Enrollment / program call scheduled for July 1st. We will either
1) run the full 2.5 week program, as scheduled
2) run a shorter 1 or 1.5 week program
3) cancel for 2020
February 28th 2020 Inspirations Theater COVID-19 announcement
It is with interest and strong emotion I watch the growing spread and concern for the coronavirus. As of this writing, across the world several cities and regions are in virtual lockdown, while the fear of contagion spreads.
While we would like to imagine that our summer programs will not be affected by this, we want to avoid the heartbreak on the part of the kids (or the parents, or me!) of a child being excited to take part in our summer program, only to be told at a later date that it was not happening. In the interests of the families, the children, and the summer camp experience we are now re-scheduling open enrollment to begin April 15th 2020 for all programs. However, In early April we will re-assess the situation and make the best call for the summer.
Best-case scenario: the virus does not enter this country in any meaningful way, and the programs run as planned.
Worst-case scenario: one or more regions we work in are highly affected, be that on lockdown or people too afraid to send their kids out to our camp programs (and audiences reluctant to come see our final performances); or that due to travel restrictions I am not able to make it to our camp sites.
Middle scenario: parents / kids are hesitant to enroll given the unknowns of this coming summer, and only a few weeks before we begin feel safe to commit to the summer programs.
Assuming we do run one or more of our programs, we will be changing our casting model for the summer (see link below). While we think this is a viable casting model regardless, it will also work best for any unpredictability this summer might bring.
Please direct any questions to directortorsti@rovainenmusicals.com
Thank you,
Torsti Rovainen
Director, Inspirations Theater
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April 10th update—Wisconsin camps
With some regret, we are cancelling the Wisconsin June theater camp this year. As you might guess, the coronavirus situation has made things difficult:
--not having assurance that general businesses like ours will be given the green light by June
--schools being closed this month at least (our usual outreach method)
--if the virus still having hotspots nearby or even in-country by June (or for recruitment, mid-May) some parents being leery about signing up or having their kids attend
--Our co-venue the Amherst Energy Fair having recently been cancelled.
Here’s to hoping that the situation clears up soon, and that more theater fun can be had in the future,
—Torsti Rovainen
Director, Inspirations Theater