EDMONTON ENTERTAINMENT: What Hasn’t Been Canceled?

Posted on March 13, 2020 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music, Theatre

At this point it would be easier to list the events that haven’t been postponed or canceled.

COVID-19 has spooked all of humanity like an alien invasion – and we’re all in the same ark.

But if you’re not in self-isolation (some people have been doing this for years), there’s still a lot of live entertainment happening in and around Edmonton this weekend. It’s just on a smaller scale, that’s all.

Until further notice, any gathering over 250 people has been banned by the Alberta government – from giant weddings to meetings to concerts to sporting events. This number actually gives us a good gauge to what’s been put on hold and what’s still happening. Of course several smaller events are canceling of their own accord, so check ahead.

Indie bands and comics have been cracking jokes that their gigs are safe, as their shows never draw as many as 250 people. Expected to draw more than that is Rage Against the Machine, whose Rogers Place show on May 3 has been postponed along with the rest of the tour. It also looks like the Glorious Sons gig, which was to have taken place March 19 at the Edmonton Convention Centre, has been put on hold. Also canceled are the last two shows for the New Moon Folk Club: Paperboys on March 20, and Jon Brooks on March 27.

Meanwhile, in town tonight, Friday, March 13: Rae Spoon at the Aviary, the Real McKenzies at the Starlite, and the Chron Goblin Red Hot Gospel LP release show at the Sewing Machine Factory are expected to go on. Again maybe call ahead to make sure. Local bars and restaurants are all taking reasonable precautions, wiping down surfaces, putting out hand sanitizers and so on.

This 250 number applies to live theatre. The Mayfield has suspended its production of Noises Off. Festival Place has postponed all events until April 14. The Citadel Theatre has announced the abrupt end for its big musical As You Like It, and postponed the openings of The Garneau Block and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, among other events.

Smaller shows are still running. Mercury Opera’s La Boheme will play as scheduled in the Citadel’s Rice Theatre until Saturday, March 14. Shadow Theatre will go ahead with Heisenberg, at the Varscona Theatre until March 29. The Roxy on Gateway is still running the Wild Side Theatre production of The Children. The capacity of the venue is 81, “so we’re fine,” says director Jim Guedo. (See here to read Colin MacLean’s review). Comedy shows at the Grindstone Theatre and Spotlight Cabaret (featuring Donovan Workun, right) will continue. Edmonton Opera, meanwhile, has canceled all performances of Candide that was supposed to have opened Saturday, March 14, in the Jubilee Auditorium.

Looking forward, some big events till stand. This may change, of course. Going on sale today (Friday, March 13) is the Soundtrack Music Festival – June 26-27 in Kinsmen Park featuring Kesha, Third Eye Blind, Flavor Flav (top photo) and others in an “I Love the ‘00s” sort of thing. The festival promoter Trixstar Productions was, however, forced to postpone motivational speaker Gary Vaynerchuk’s show, which was to have been at the Edmonton Expo Centre on March 26.

Trixstar issued a statement: “Due to the rapidly evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, we have been forced to postpone the event as per the direction of Alberta Health Services and the Alberta Government on events over 250 people. The health, safety and well-being of our guests and everyone involved is and always will be the number one priority. We are working with all parties involved to reschedule; all current tickets will be honored for the new date. Our priority is to support AHS in their efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“We appreciate your patience as we work through this reschedule. We are currently working on answers to frequently asked questions from our various stakeholders and it is our intention to communicate on a regular basis as this situation is fluid.”

They speak for a lot of producers and purveyors of live entertainment everywhere. Many of them will suffer financially – but at least we’re all in this together, right? We might even learn something in the end.