Friday, Jan. 22, 2021

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
    • View Sponsors
    • Weekly Deals
  • Contact
Daily COVID-19 reports

Fayetteville Flyer

  • Home
  • Local News
    • All News
    • Restaurant News
    • Trail News
    • Beer News
    • City Council Recaps
  • Arts & Events
  • Columns & Features
    • Trail Tours
    • Giveaways
    • Movie Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Theatre Reviews
    • Recipes
  • Sports
  • Sections
    • Local News
    • Restaurant News
    • Beer News
    • Arts & Events
    • Columns & Features
    • Sports
  • Calendar
  • Public Meetings
  • Movie Listings
    • Fiesta Square
    • Razorback Cinema
  • Weekly Deals
  • Homes for Sale
    • Fayetteville Homes
    • All NWA Homes
    • Find an Agent

Walton Arts Center postpones large-scale programming until 2021, announce new fund to help cover shortfalls

  • By Dustin Bartholomew ·  
    July 7, 2020 

File photo

Walton Arts Center officials on Tuesday announced the venue won’t host large-scale performances until 2021, and the organization has created a new ‘Ghost Light Recovery Fund’ to help cover revenue shortfalls created by the cancellation of programming as a result of COVID-19.

The performing arts center has postponed Broadway shows and all other performances with audiences of more than 200 people until at least Jan. 2021.

“It will be some time before we can resume business as usual at our venues,” said Peter Lane, president and CEO of Walton Arts Center. “Because each show involves several hundred cast and crew members and draws thousands of audience members, it is almost impossible to socially distance and remain safe. The health and safety of our audience, performers and staff are our top priorities.”

The upcoming season had originally scheduled to begin in September with My Fair Lady. That show has been rescheduled for next Summer.

Mean Girls, originally scheduled for November, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in December, will also be rescheduled. The remaining Broadway shows scheduled for early next year will go on as scheduled for now.

Ticket holders to these, and other large shows scheduled for this fill, will be contacted directly as soon as scheduling changes are finalized, officials said.

Facing programming losses at the Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP, officials say they are expecting a deficit of more than $1 million this year, and are hoping to make up some of that ground with the new Ghost Light Recovery Fund. Proceeds from donations to the fund will go to offset lost revenue from canceled performances, to help continue education and intermission programming, and to help maintain facilities and support staff until full-scale performances can resume.

For those who aren’t familiar, a ghost light is a longstanding theatrical tradition that when theaters are unoccupied, a single light a left burning on stage to light the way for a safe return to the state.

WAC officials say their ghost light has been on stage since the programming suspension in March.

Those who’d like to contribute to the Ghost Light Recovery Fund may do so by donating at waltonartscenter.org/ghostlight.

TOPICS: COVID-19

    RECENT POSTS IN THIS TOPIC

  • Case update: Arkansas COVID-19 cases increase by 2,520 Wednesday, hospitalizations decrease
  • UA to host vaccination clinic for some university employees Jan. 23
  • Case update: Arkansas COVID-19 cases increase by 1,109 Monday
  • Case update: Arkansas COVID-19 cases increase by 3,124

 

Discussion

Fayetteville Flyer has specific guidelines for commenting. To avoid having your comment deleted -- or your commenting privileges revoked -- read our Comment Policy before you comment. Violators will be banned from commenting. Report a comment that violates the guidelines to contact@fayettevilleflyer.com. Commenters on the Flyer are responsible for all legal consequences arising from their comments, including libel, infringement of copyright or actions that threaten a third party. By submitting a comment, you agree to indemnify Wonderstate Media LLC, its partners and employees from any legal action arising from your comments.

  • @fayflyer
  •     » See all sponsor deals & specials
  • Advertisements

  • Get Email News Updates

    Welcome to the Flyer!

    Whether looking for a recap of a City Council meeting or to see who is playing in town for happy hour, residents turn to the Fayetteville Flyer to find out what’s going on in and around Fayetteville.

    Never miss a story. Receive a daily email with headlines for all the Flyer’s stories.

  • Advertisements


     

  • Local Info

    Deals & More
    Fire/Police Dispatch Logs
    Detention Intake Report
  • Sponsors

    » See all

  • ADVERTISEMENTS

  • Flyer Sponsors

    sponsor-logos
    » See all sponsors
  • Sponsor Tweets

    A Twitter List by fayflyer
  • Become a sponsor

    The Flyer focuses on free news that's specific to Fayetteville. Because of that, our readers are local, and they're loyal to the businesses that support their daily source of information.

    Let us help your company deliver its message to our ever-growing audience.

    To talk about becoming a sponsor, call 479-387-1002 or email us.

  • About
  • Legal
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram Flickr Pinterest RSS

© 2007-2020 Wonderstate Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy