The Latest from the Chattanooga Theatre Centre

Coronavirus Updates

Check this page and follow us on Facebook for updates as more information becomes available.

An Update for the CTC Family

Your CTC may be quiet at the moment, but we’re anything but inactive as we endeavor to move ahead with a good deal of caution and a fair amount of savvy and vision. We’re focused on balancing the safety and wishes of our patrons with the safety and wishes of our volunteers, and we’re focused on balancing the security of the live theatre experience with the expectation of quality theatre that the community has come to expect of us.

We’ve made the tough decision to pick up our 2020-2021 season in its entirety, which was due to open in September with THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and move it a year down the road to 2021-2022. There’s a delicate balance to creating a season, and we didn’t want to cherry pick shows and upset that balance by pulling out shows to consider for the coming months. Plus, the season was selected before the crisis hit, and the majority of the shows could not be staged with the necessary safety precautions we need for our actors on stage. We have to consider the safety not just of our audiences, but of our volunteers on stage and behind the scenes. So that’s a sacrifice we had to make.

We had two productions (Agatha Christie’s THE HOLLOW and Neil Simon’s BAREFOOT IN THE PARK) ready to open in March when the pandemic hit, but both of those had to be put on hold indefinitely. As the crisis evolved, it became clear that we couldn’t stage them in the current climate. Our audiences want to see them, but even streaming options are out of the question right now because we have to consider the safety of our volunteer actors who can’t physically distance themselves on stage. It is our hope to revive both shows in 2021.

The remaining shows of the season, DREAMGIRLS, THE CAT IN THE HAT, and MAMMA MIA, were also cancelled.

Instead, we’re looking at opportunities in the fall and winter to produce non-musical plays (the respiratory droplets expelled during singing increases the likelihood of exposure) with small casts that can be pulled off with physical distancing for the safety of our actors, without compromising the artistic integrity of the shows.

We are confident we can exceed recommended standards for the safety of our audiences. We can reduce capacity to 33 percent and seat patrons more than six feet apart. We can redirect foot traffic to avoid crowding, conduct temperature checks, institute no-contact ticketing, require masks, sanitize before and after performances, etc. We already have touchless faucets and an HVAC rehab scheduled. We’ll enact those protocols when the time is right, when it’s safe and ethical for us to open our doors again.

We also have a unique opportunity with the beautiful riverfront lawn on our property, and we’re exploring options for presenting community arts performances in that space.

Thanks to you, we will weather this storm. Thanks to those of you who’ve donated the value of your unused tickets to the theatre. Thanks to those of you who’ve entrusted us with their children at Summer Academy. Thanks to those of you who’ve engaged with us on social media and kept us connected. Thanks to those of you who’ve responded with generosity to our donation appeals. Thanks to those of you who participated in our patron and volunteer surveys and helped inform our decisions for moving forward. Many, many thanks for hanging in there with us. We look forward to seeing you once again!

Posted July 20, 2020

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A Message to Ticket Holders

The Theatre Centre is committed to providing the utmost flexibility for our patrons in light of the postponement and cancellation of shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have tickets to THE HOLLOW, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, CAT IN THE HAT, DREAMGIRLS, or MAMMA MIA, or if you have unused season tickets, we assure you that we are working diligently to streamline the process of making other arrangements for you. Therefore, we have introduced a new policy.

We can convert any tickets you currently hold to AnyTime Passes for the 2020-2021 season. Traditionally, our AnyTime season subscriptions have provided subscribers with the flexibility to save while selecting any combination of shows they wish to see. Likewise, AnyTime Passes will allow you to use these passes in any way you want to see any show you want in 2020-2021. We will transfer your tickets to AnyTime Passes at no charge. (Seating will be general admission to accommodate social distancing.)

That means ticket holders have the following options:

Convert your tickets to AnyTime Passes to see any shows during the 2020-2021 season.
Donate the value of your tickets to the CTC and receive a tax deduction.
Receive a full refund for the value of your tickets.

Please contact us regarding your preferences by emailing us at [email protected]. Or, call our box office at 423.267.8534 and leave a message. We are working from home, so due to anticipated volume, we ask for your patience as we respond to each and every one of you.

Thank you for your support of the CTC. We look forward to seeing you once again!

Posted May 26, 2020

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A Message from Board President Mitch Collins

At the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, our mission is to enrich the cultural, intellectual, and emotional development of people of all ages through high-quality theatrical experiences and creating opportunities to engage in them. Since theatre brings people together for shared experiences, COVID-19, in some respects, has become the antithesis of theatre and in opposition to our core purpose. Know that our intention is to honor our commitments to our audiences and our artists, and that we look forward to resuming production as soon as it is responsible and ethical to do so, with a goal of opening by June 1, 2020.

Our new date to open “The Hollow” is June 4 for a two-week run through June 14, and our new date to open “Barefoot in the Park” is June 5 for a three-week run through June 21. To allow for continued social distancing, we will limit attendance at performances of “The Hollow” to 175 general admission tickets per show and “Barefoot in the Park” to 75 general admission tickets per show. We will honor all current ticket holders.

Be on the lookout for updates on our modified audition procedures for our July and August productions of “Cat in the Hat,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Mamma Mia.” We will post those procedures to our website and Facebook page when available.

Education Director Chuck Tuttle has been hard at work creating a wide range of programs for our Summer Academy, and we look forward to sharing the details soon.

I am so excited to let you know about our upcoming 2020-2021 season announcement during the week of April 13. We are planning a week of interactive fun as we reveal the season, so visit our Facebook page next week to be a part of the activities.

Lastly, we are in unprecedented times and though there is uncertainty, there are also the shared experiences and joy of theatre. We cannot wait until we can greet you at the door and start bringing you the high-quality theatrical productions you have come to expect from the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

Thank you!

Mitch Collins
CTC Board President

Please consider supporting us during this critical period by doing the following:

Make a Donation! Though some of our staff has been furloughed, others continue to work limited hours. The CTC continues to cover all healthcare benefits, normal overhead expenses, and production costs. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the CTC today and help us come back stronger than ever before. Click here to support us with your gift: theatrecentre.com/donate

Buy Single Tickets! We now have new dates for “The Hollow” and “Barefoot in the Park.” We have cut our capacity by more than half to ensure our patrons’ and volunteers’ safety, so get your tickets soon!

Purchase a Season Subscription! The 2020-2021 season is going to be fantastic! Subscriptions will be available at the culmination of our fun-filled week around the season announcement!

Posted April 10, 2020

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Dear CTC Family,

Our stage was empty this past weekend, but our hearts are full with the outpouring of support we have received from our theatre family this week. You are important to us, and we look forward to seeing you again when we get on the other side of this crisis.

In light of the developing news about the coronavirus and recommended guidelines from local, state, and national authorities, here’s the latest from the CTC:

In the interest of public safety and the safety of our employees, our box office is now closed to walk-up traffic. We will continue to operate our normal business by phone and online. Ticketholders with current reservations are being contacted regarding their options: rescheduling, donating the ticket price, or getting a refund. If you need assistance, call the box office at 423.267.8534 and, if you don’t reach us, leave a message.
Our Youth Theatre production of THE CAT IN THE HAT, originally scheduled for May 8-17, has been rescheduled for June 12-21. (This is subject to change.)
Auditions for THE CAT IN THE HAT, originally scheduled for March 23-24, have been rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday, May 4-5, at 5 p.m. (This is subject to change.) Auditions will be conducted with a limited number of people at one time. For more information, visit us at http://bit.ly/35YUjIU.
Auditions for DREAMGIRLS, originally scheduled for March 23-24, have been rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 13-14, at 7:30 p.m. (This is subject to change.)
The start of classes, originally scheduled for Monday, March 16, has been postponed as we consider our alternatives. Our education department is reaching out to registered students to provide more information.
The puppet playshop scheduled for this Saturday, March 21, has been cancelled.
The Second Century Society reception scheduled for March 31 will be rescheduled on a later date.
Our productions of THE HOLLOW, originally scheduled to open last Friday, and BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, originally scheduled to open Friday of next week, are on hold as we consider alternative dates and alternative means of presenting them to you.
Finally, be on the lookout for an announcement about our 2020-2021 season!

Note that it is never an easy decision to postpone a production, because it impacts our entire community – you, our dedicated patrons, subscribers, and supporters, as well as our remarkable volunteers, creative team, and staff. However, with the rapidly changing public health recommendations, we are taking steps to protect everyone. Your well-being is our top priority.

While these challenging times call for bold choices, we trust that this current hiatus of live theatre at the CTC—and elsewhere—will only serve to bolster our love and appreciation for it.

So, stay tuned. We have a dedicated page on our website (TheatreCentre.com/coronavirus) which we will update whenever we have new information. You can also find updates on our Facebook pages.

Thank you for supporting us as we work to ensure that the first-class theatre you count on at the CTC continues to thrive in our great city. Be safe. We hope to see you soon.

– Your friends at the CTC

Posted March 18, 2020

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To Our Valued Patrons and Volunteers,

As our community continues to feel the increased impact of the coronavirus, we feel it is important to share with you what we are doing to help keep people safe and healthy. Please be assured we have protocols in place and are working within CDC and local public health officials’ guidelines.

Our mission is to enrich the cultural, intellectual, and emotional development of people of all ages by providing high-quality theatrical experiences and creating opportunities to engage in them, but as the situation evolves, we have made the decision to temporarily cease productions as of today, March 13, and we will keep you informed as other information becomes available.

The health and safety of our theatre community is our top priority. This difficult decision was not made lightly, and we hope to resume activities as soon as is safely possible.

This decision affects the following activities:

– The opening of our production of “The Hollow,” originally scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed until Thursday, March 26. This is subject to change as we continue to monitor the recommendations of local, state, and national agencies.

– The start of classes scheduled for Monday, March 16, will be delayed until Monday, March 30. Our education department will be reaching out to registered students to provide more information. This is subject to change.

– Auditions for “Dreamgirls” and “Cat in the Hat” will continue as planned on Monday, March 24. This is subject to change.

– The opening of our production of “Barefoot in the Park” will proceed as scheduled on Friday, March 27. This is subject to change.

Here are the immediate steps we are taking to serve our theatre community:

– Our box office will contact ticketholders by email and phone regarding rescheduling current reservations.

– We are exercising increased vigilance in cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing all public, backstage, and administrative spaces in the building in keeping with CDC guidelines.

– We are recommending all employees and guest artists take precautionary health measures, including frequent handwashing, social distancing, and staying home when sick or symptomatic.

We will provide further information and updates via our Facebook pages and website.

Our volunteers and patrons are at the heart of everything we do. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this difficult situation one day at a time. While the short term will be challenging, we are committed to providing the same quality of theatre experiences, volunteer opportunities, and educational outreach you have come to expect. Thank you for your continued support of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

Posted March 13, 2020