The University of Illinois’ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has announced the cancellation of all public, in-person performances this fall.
Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline spoke with Krannert Center Director Mike Ross about the decision. Ross says they consulted with many different stakeholders before making the decision, and considered several factors.
“As the understanding about the nature of the virus and the challenges to protection, but also just the very real issue in the performing arts of having artists traveling across the country or around the world, and being able to do so safely themselves, so there’s multiple elements that played into our decision.”
Ross says Krannert will make a decision about Spring 2021 performances in late fall, and will not sell any tickets for those performances until they make that decision.
He says although the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a big financial toll on the facility, there have been no changes to full-time staffing at this point.
“We’ve not had to furlough or eliminate any full-status positions,” Ross said. “We all know that could change, but our staff has plenty to do.”
He says Krannert’s full-time staff will continue to work with University of Illinois students and faculty this fall on productions that will only be performed internally for educational purposes.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is a financial supporter of WILL.
