“ We didn ’ t even know if we could do it ,” says Wilson Jr . “ It was a mess .”
Festival Ballet planned to use its $ 100,000 Take It Outside grant to mount an outdoor production of The Nutcracker . The children were cut from the cast and the run-time was shortened . Heat lamps would warm the dancers and the audience , seated in socially distant pods . With payment fast approaching for the outdoor stage , Governor Gina Raimondo announced a three-week “ pause ” to reduce community transmission of COVID-19 . The company decided to go virtual , but only had three days to find a stage . The Gamm kindly obliged .
“ I don ’ t think I ever want to hear the word ‘ pivot ’ again ,” Festival Ballet ’ s Combes jokes .
The Rhode Island Philharmonic ditched its Handel ’ s Messiah with a full orchestra and 100 choral singers , but it never abandoned live indoor concerts . With a 1,900- seat venue , it could host small events , with a chamber-sized group of musicians and no more than 150 patrons .
“ To say that we were socially distanced is to put it mildly ,” says Executive Director David Beauchesne . “ We were at 7 percent capacity , but we did not have to turn people away . It was a very strange experience , but better than not being able to perform at all . The musicians had never been happier to see such a small audience if it meant them performing live and getting that feedback .”
The financial losses were staggering . The December holiday show is the Black Friday of the performing arts year . Holiday ticket sales typically account for 30 to 50 percent of annual revenue . Americans for the Arts reported that , as of July 2021 , the nation ’ s nonprofit arts and culture organizations lost $ 17.97 billion in revenue due to the pandemic , representing a loss of 557 million ticketed admissions . As a whole , the industry lost an estimated $ 42 billion in sales and 1.4 million jobs .
Many of the local holiday performances were free . The Gamm , which had been building a repeat audience for its live 1940sstyle It ’ s a Wonderful Life production , presented it on the Public ’ s Radio .
“ Our show did not sell any tickets ,” says Artistic Director Tony Estrella . “ But our patrons did stay with us for all the pain of the year . There was an incredible amount of largess and support and that ’ s what got us through .”
The Island Moving Company , which created a delightful thirty-minute Nutcracker film shot all over Newport , sold streaming tickets , but also broadcast it three times on Rhode Island PBS .
“ Through the pandemic year , our earned revenue was down over 35 percent ,” says Executive Director Peter Bramante . “ But we took advantage of every grant , and funding from the Rhode Island State Council and support from our donors , so we could keep our dancers employed , and after a short hiatus , we were able to keep working . We were able to make up most of the difference .”
In addition to various state and private
foundation grants , the two federal pandemic relief bills , the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act , awarded more than $ 27 million to Rhode Island Arts organizations and venues .
Ironically , even as they lost ticket sales , they extended their reach and perhaps created some new fans . For example , the Chorus of Westerly , which can accommodate no more than 1,500 people over three Christmas pops concerts , had 20,000 downloads . Trinity Rep ’ s A Christmas Carol “ had viewers from all fifty states and thirty-seven countries on six continents ,” says Director of Marketing and Communications Kate Brandt . “ In total , we had almost 200,000 people — far more than we can do live .”
Dance companies mounted a series of well-received , outdoor performances in the warmer weather .
“ They automatically drew people in ,” says Festival dancer Anna Lisa Wilkins . “ People walking down Hope Street watched and maybe said , ‘ Let ’ s get a ticket .’ That ’ s very valuable and Festival is exploring doing more of that . It was a great marketing tool without
Add Matlaw ’ s to your Holiday table
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l DECEMBER 2021 29