By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The stage is dark and no audience members are in the seats at the Hays Community Theatre.
Precautions in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak have resulted in HCT canceling or postponing all of its upcoming performances.
This included performances of "Miss Buchanan's Deadly Inheritance," a dinner theater that was scheduled for March 27-28 and the postponement of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," which was set for April 17-19 and April 25-26.
Summer production canceled
Because of the lost revenue from the smaller shows this spring, the HCT board also voted within the last week to cancel its annual summer production, which was set to be "Cinderella."
The licensing is expensive for the these large shows, in addition to substantial cost of renting Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, board member Andy Stanton said.
HCT normally would have been scheduling auditions for the summer production in April.
HCT has also lost show sponsorships from businesses who bought ads in its programs.
Without any revenue coming in, HCT is using what little money it has on hand to pay utilities and the mortgage on its building in the former Eagle's Lodge at 121 E. Eighth.
"Until we can get things back open to have performances, the money we have in the bank is being used for utility bills for the next few months. After that, we are going to be in dire straights," Stanton said.
"We put out a fundraising appeal to people who have been to performances. Until we can open up to large groups, we need some help."
Call for donations
Gene Stramel, HCT board president, issued a plea in an online letter to patrons to make direct donations to HCT so the theater can keep paying its bills until it can reopen its doors to audiences.
You can donate to HCT through PayPal. There is a donate button on the HCT website at hctks.com. Donors can also send checks to HCT, PO Box 21, Hays, KS 67601.
Stanton said the HCT board hopes to reopen before the end of the year and have enough small performances to support its large December production of "Elf the Musical."
"The whole purpose for community theater is for people to get experience as actors and people to get experience in theater management and for audiences to enjoy productions that are locally produced," Stanton said. "We are a nonprofit. We are not here rake in dough. We are here to provide a service in community.
"Any profits we get from shows, we put back into shows or in the theatre itself."
HCT's board is all volunteer.
HCT was already facing issues with a failing HVAC system. Stanton said the board is hoping it will hold out until the theater can get back on its feet.
"We are hoping we don't have any major expenses, and we are not taking any chances on anything we might lose money on," he said.
HCT's lender is working with the nonprofit, Stanton said, and HCT is researching an application for federal stimulus funds from the Small Business Administration.
Together but apart for rehearsals
Although performances of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" had to be postponed, HCT still hopes to stage the production when the theater reopens.
The cast and crew of 12 are meeting online to rehearse. Although the cast can't block the play, they are still staying sharp for what they hope will be a post-corona performance.
"That has been good for us to still be able to connect," Stanton said, who will portray Gaston, a bar patron in the play.
The play is written by Steve Martin and is the fictional account of what might have happened if Picasso and Einstein had walked into a Paris bar right before each were launched into fame in their respective fields.
"When we do finally get to perform 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile,' it will be a must-see," Stanton said. "It's truly a funny play.
"We are all waiting. We hope to get this show produced. It is going to be something great for all of our patrons, and we can laugh when we are all through with this."
If you have specific questions about HCT, email [email protected].