SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The Westcott Theater in Syracuse is a popular choice for viewing live performances in Central New York, and as of right now, it is thriving off of in-person business as usual. The current rise in COVID-19 cases in Onondaga County could pose a threat, but some people are pleased with its status right now.
Kaylee Barrett, an Entertainment and Recording Industries major at SU in the Bandier program, thinks it’s refreshing and exciting to be able to see live music again.
“It was one of the first venues I’ve been to, and like a real venue, since everything’s happened just because a lot of the places that I’ve wanted to go to concerts have actually gotten canceled,” she said.
In 2007, the theater first made its transition from a movie theater into a live performance venue with the grand opening in 2008. The Westcott Theater is located about a mile away from SU campus in the small neighborhood of Westcott. It presents diverse line-ups ranging from Syracuse University students to comedians or small bands.
Last Thursday, the theater held a concert called Bloomfest, presenting a series of SU student music groups and other organizations.
Kaylee Barrett said, “I got to see a bunch of the kids that I’m in Bandier with play with their bands and then some of their friends outside of Bandier as well…It was super fun to see people my age performing on a big stage like that.”
An intern for The Westcott Theater, Hannah Kushner, said, “Bloomfest had a really good turnout which was more than we expected.”
Many SU students were there to watch their friends perform. The event was mask optional and had few COVID restrictions. Bloomfest was just one of the events the theater has put on though, and many more are planned for the coming weeks.
Up until the end of May, The Westcott Theater has 12 more live performances on its schedule. With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Onondaga County, could the status of live music events be in jeopardy?
Hannah Kushner believes that the theater’s position might be okay with how it is.
“I think it is a smaller venue so a smaller capacity which could make things easier for COVID because of less people.” Kushner also mentioned that because she is just an intern, she isn’t sure of the official status of The Westcott Theater’s decisions.
The Westcott Theater has three live events in a row for this week, starting tomorrow night.
