Faced with the uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Horizon Youth Theatre Board of Directors has shifted gears on the troupe’s June musical.
HYT was scheduled to stage the Stephen Schwartz musical “Children of Eden,” June 19-22 with auditions in early April.
But with tightening public health restrictions, the board in consultation with the director decided the troupe will not be able to hold auditions in early April, as planned, so they will not have enough time to rehearse a show as elaborate as “Children of Eden.” Moreover, the closures of schools, churches, and other spaces means they cannot arrange for a performance space until the crisis ends.
The board, however, is confident they can produce another popular Stephen Schwartz musical, “Godspell” with only a few weeks of rehearsal time. “Godspell” can be adapted to many different kinds of spaces, giving the troupe more flexibility in the performances spaces it can use.
The board stated: “All of us were looking forward to “Children of Eden,” and we will definitely revisit that show as an option for HYT in the near future. For now, the health and safety of our community needs to come first. When the crisis begins to lift and we can finalize arrangements for ‘Godspell,’ we will share all of the audition and performance details with our families.”
The board said that it remains committed to carrying out the rest of the season, including the musical, the Festival of Shorts, the HYT Cabaret, and Summer Workshops.
