WESTFIELD-The show must go on as they say for those in the theater, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic, producers, directors and crew for the Westfield Theatre Group are in a holding pattern for the foreseeable future.
This spring, just nine days before the opening of “She Loves Me,” a “collaborative decision” was made between the Westfield Theatre Group (WTG) executive board and the production crew of “She Loves Me” to postpone the show due to the pandemic, according to John Farrell, WTG chairperson.
Since that time in early March, Farrell said a few meetings over the Zoom platform have taken place with WTG members, as well as with Jeffrey Flood who was eager to bring “She Loves Me” to the Westfield Woman’s Club stage.
“To my knowledge we were one of the first local community theaters to make that kind of decision, before municipalities began closing their facilities and before the state of Massachusetts began restrictions,” said Flood.
A recent announcement on the WTG website noted, “It is with great sadness we announce that the Westfield Theatre Group has made the tough decision to postpone our spring production of ‘She Loves Me.’ While the mission of WTG is to provide quality theater entertainment to the community, the health and safety of our guests, casts, and crew is of the utmost importance.”
Farrell noted that the executive board is working with Music Theatre International to secure licensing for future show dates.
“We have to work with the licensing company because we set certain dates in our contract with them,” said Farrell, adding, “if we were to move the dates without an agreement from them they could shut us down.”
Flood and his crew remain hopeful that the show will go on, and when new dates are confirmed, rehearsals can resume.
“If we can’t perform this year, the board of Westfield Theatre Group has committed to the production for spring of 2021,” said Flood.
For updates on WTG shows and ways to become involved, visit westfieldtheatregroup.com.
“We have had a few meetings via Zoom over the past few months, although we do hope to have an in-person meeting so we can see each other and see the construction being done at the Westfield Woman’s Club,” added Farrell.
