It is hard to believe earlier in this month we were celebrating the opening of Indecent; a powerful piece about enduring in the face of adversity and the power of art to open hearts and minds. Little did we know that COVID-19 would cause us to halt our production and force the entire world to pause.
The temporary closing of our theatre, and specifically the unexpected cancellation of the remaining performances of Indecent has admittedly left us at a loss. There is no doubt in our minds that the safety protocols put in place by the government are necessary and, in the long run, will prove to have been vital in saving lives. However, the impact that this will have on local business and organizations, such as The Kavinoky Theatre, is yet to be seen. Like the rest of the world, we have been trying to sort through the details of how to navigate these unprecedented times while honoring our social responsibility to keep people safe and also come out on the other side of this a viable organization. Central to the heart of these discussions has been how to respond to and serve our loyal patrons. As we all know, it is very hard to make decisions as things are changing so rapidly. At this time, we would like to share with you what is happening with The Kavinoky:
- As of March 19th, all staff started working from home to help stop the spread of the virus. At this time, we do have access to voicemail but, will be returning calls on personal cell phones. If you do receive a phone call from us, please do not reuse this number to contact us. Our phone number is still (716) 829 – 7668. However, the easiest and quickest way to get in touch with us is via email – kavinokytheatre@dyc.edu
- The remaining two weeks of Indecent as of right now, are being rescheduled to July 9th-19th (two full weekends). All ticket holders who were unable to attend Indecent during its regularly scheduled dates will be given the opportunity to reschedule. We will keep you updated if those dates also need to change.
- We have made the difficult decision to cancel The Mystery Of Irma Vep. In the coming days we will be reaching out to ticket holders for Irma Vep with solutions as to how to proceed.
- Our annual fundraiser The Kavinoky Kabaret has been rescheduled to May 29th. This is tentative as we are working to comply with regulations around public gatherings and social distancing.
- Sales for our 20/21 season will be slightly delayed. We do still plan on selling Flex-Passes on April 6th but, traditional subscriptions and single tickets will be delayed until we are able to build a new seating chart (YES! We will have new seats!)
The Kavinoky Theatre has been blessed over the past 40 years to enjoy the support of loyal patrons and donors who appreciate our programing, value our contributions to the arts community and recognize the vital role arts organizations play in our local Buffalo economy. Even as you engage in social distancing in the weeks and months ahead, we encourage you to find ways to continue to support those businesses and artists who make Buffalo such a rewarding community in which to live and raise a family. In these unprecedented times we ask for your continued support. Here are some ways you can help the Kavinoky Theatre weather the storm:
- Share your patience by agreeing to not act on ticket returns or exchanges for Indecent. With the ever-changing timeline, we are hoping that the new dates will work. We promise to keep you updated.
- Turn your tickets into a donation. Without the ability to hold performances, the theatre is without revenue at this time. Donations, which have always been critical to our business model, are more critical than ever in helping us operating though this crisis.
- We recognize that some of you may be without income as well during this time and we want to support you, as you have supported us over the years. If you are a single ticket holder in need of a refund, we are suspending our strict no-refund policy and will return your money to you.
- If you are a subscriber or flex-pass holder (who still had tickets in your account for Irma Vep), we are working on a special arrangement for next season to make up for the cancellation of our final show. We will keep you updated.
One of the enduring qualities of the arts is how they can bring comfort, joy and peace during troubled times. We encourage you to use online tools to stay engaged with the arts during these times of social distancing.
One way The Kavinoky is staying engaged is a project we are calling 6 Feet. We are asking patrons, students and friends of the Theatre to e-mail us stories about what they’re seeing, feeling and experiencing. Stories of a good neighbor, what you’ve perhaps learned about your family during isolation, or just feelings of anger, frustration or hope. Sometimes art can be therapeutic and life-changing, so please help us create a theatre piece that all of us can help with-and each other.
You don’t have to use your name (unless you give us permission) and it doesn’t have to be long-just a paragraph-no thought about what is going on is too small. So e-mail us at kavinokytheatre@dyc.edu .
We truly cannot wait to welcome you back to The Kavinoky and look forward to when we can open our doors once again.
Until then, warmest regards and stay safe,
Loraine, Geoff, Dave and Norm.
Due to the Governors COVID-19 Health & Safety protocol, the remaining shows of INDECENT have been cancelled. Within the next week, patrons will hear from our staff about exchanges or refunds. Please be patient, as we are tasked with contacting hundreds of people during this time.We want to thank you for your support and will update this message, our website, and social media on a regular basis.
July 9th - July 19th(Tentative)
By Paula Vogel
Directed by Kristen Tripp Kelley
Indecent takes us through the history of Sholem Asch's controversial 1907 Yiddish play God of Vengeance which tells the story of a Jewish brothel owner who bribes a rabbi so that the rabbi's son will marry his daughter. The problem: the daughter falls in love with a prostitute. BUY TICKETS
This event has been postponed until the Fall of 2020. The event will be held on the 6th floor of the D'Youville Academic Center, featuring a panoramic penthouse view of the entire city. The event will feature cocktails, wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres, food stations, auction items, silent auction, and entertainment; featuring LET CHI ENTERTAIN YOU and DEE ADAMS INDIGO ALL STAR TRIBUTE. Tickets are $75. Industry/DYC tickets are $35! Please call (716) 829-7668 to take advantage of this discounted rate.
"Take a Seat" and become a permanent part of the Kavinoky Theatre! By naming a seat at the Kavinoky Theatre, you can honor someone special, remember a loved one, or promote your business in a unique and lasting way.
