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Syracuse Stage Welcomes Patrons Back into their Theatre Syracuse Stage welcomes patrons back into their theatre

Eureka Day will have its opening show this weekend.

By Logan Garvey

LOGAN GARVEY: Stage manager Kiara Brown says theatres across the area are tailoring their pieces to the stress this past year has caused.
KIARA BROWN: A lot of the stories that theatres are doing now are connecting to the feelings of isolation.
GARVEY: Syracuse Stage Director of Marketing and Communications Joseph Whelan says their upcoming show, Eureka Day, will impact stores and restaurants around the theatre.
GARVEY: He says the opera and Symphoria are also trying to reopen, which is good for downtown Syracuse in general.
JOSEPH WHELAN: The lifeblood of the of the city is coming back.
GARVEY: Whelan says the past year without theatre felt like a drought, but now there’s so much energy at Syracuse Stage.
WHELAN: There’s you know, the laughter, there are the great stories that we tell at Syracuse Stage there are the fantastic performances, the great characters. These are all things we just want to remind people of: that we’re still going ahead and doing it.
GARVEY: Whelan says the theatre has designated areas for eating and drinking but otherwise is requiring masks on at all times.
In Syracuse, Logan Garvey, N-C-C News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)–Grab your popcorn and candy because theatres around the Syracuse area have their opening shows this weekend after a year of no in-person productions.

Stage manager Kiara Brown said the excitement theatre-lovers bring when they are together and not virtual is unique.

“Art is a way to just bring the community together and tell a very important story,” Brown said.

The in-person element also has made Syracuse Stage Director of Marketing and Communications Joseph Whelan excited.

“It’s just the energy that comes with being able to return to something that you love doing,” Whelan said.

Despite this, some audience members will not be in attendance at their upcoming play, Eureka Day.

“We have a very loyal subscriber base, and some people just aren’t ready to come back,” Whelan said.

But, Whelan said he understands this because most of their patrons are older and have been with the theatre for over 40 years.

“When they’re ready, we’d love to have them back,” Whelan said. 

The opening shows at Syracuse Stage and The Landmark Theatre this weekend is a new sight. Whelan said the last day Syracuse Stage had anything in-person was on Mar. 13, 2020.  

“The lifeblood of the city is coming back,” Whelan said.

The pandemic impacted the theatre community, and Brown said stages in the area are strategically choosing which plays and musicals they put on after the stress the past year has caused.

“A lot of the stories that theatres are doing now are connecting to the feelings of isolation,” Brown said.

While the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, especially with the pandemic, Whelan is reminiscent of what theatre was and what theatre will be once again.

“There’s you know, the laughter, there are the great stories that we tell at Syracuse Stage,” said Whelan. “There are fantastic performances and great characters. These are all things we just want to remind people of: that we’re still going ahead and doing it.”

Starting Nov. 8, the Syracuse Stage requires those who want to attend shows at their theatre to be fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative COVID test. 

“We’re just going to keep doing our best to make sure people feel comfortable,” Whelan said.

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