WESTLOCK – After a year of silence, the halls of Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre will come alive with the sound of music.
With COVID-19 restrictions loosening and the restriction exemption program allowing for in-person performances, the Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre Society (CATS) will once again be holding its annual performance series where talented artists take to the stage and rock the night through.
Unfortunately, it won’t be a complete return to normal. Marilee Jespersen with CATS says that restrictions will be in place which will include the restriction exemption program which requires patrons to show either proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test alongside a piece of photo ID.
“We are most interested in the safety of our patrons, so we’ve been following all the protocols to a ‘T’. We don’t want to endanger anybody,” said Jespersen. “This is new for all of us.”
Other changes will include reduced capacity, social distancing and no intermission during the performance outside of a brief break. Patrons arriving will also be seated immediately to avoid mingling before the show.
“It’s a bit of an experiment, we’ll see how the first show goes and we’ll try our best and follow all the protocols. It’s going to be a challenge, that’s for sure.”
While in past years, the performance series would see the theatre fill up to capacity with tickets completely selling out, that will not happen this time around. Instead, CATS is aiming at breaking even with reduced capacity.
Because COVID-19 prevented any shows from being held last year, CATS saw a significant hit to its finances. Due to refunds needing to be issued through Ticketpro, a ticket-purchasing website where CATS sells its tickets to shows but charges a small fee if refunds are issued.
“We have a bit of an estate that will carry us through, but if (the government) kept doing restrictions, we wouldn’t be able to keep afloat,” said Jespersen. “We were able to save up for a rainy day and the rainy day had come.”
But there’s good news for those who were excited for last year’s lineup before the pandemic pillaged plans. Drew Gregory, Derina Harvey Band, Over-The-Moon, John Wort Hannam and Von Bieker, who were all scheduled to play last year, were returned to the lineup joined by Amy Bishop.
Country artist Drew Gregory will be the first performer to return to the stage in Westlock with a performance on Nov. 5. More information about the performance series can be found at westlockculturalartstheatre.com
“We’re all eager to return,” Jespersen concluded.
