The Bishop Center was forced to cancel its spring and summer events in the face of the coronavirus threat. Now, the Aberdeen performing arts venue is developing a slate of virtual entertainment free for homebound Harborites.
“Of course, we know it is no substitution for the real ‘live’ thing, but we want to do whatever we can to keep supporting the arts,” officials said in a prepared statement.
They are working on rescheduling some of the shows that had been booked for the current season. The Grays Harbor College summer musical, “Tommy,” which would have been staged in July, has been canceled outright. Decisions will be made about fall shows as the coronavirus situation unfolds.
The first online event will take place Friday evening. Go Now, a Moody Blues tribute group assembled by the band’s drummer, will broadcast a one-hour special including recorded concert footage as well as some “lockdown” performances by the individual members from home.
Also on the schedule are the first installment of GHC drama director Andrew Gaines’ webinar speaker series, “A Conversation with…,” and the Ten-Minute (or less) Online Play Festival.
The Bishop Center has created an online survey to gauge the community’s comfort level about returning to live shows in the future. To participate, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPTK5HY.
For updates, visit the center’s Facebook page or its website at ghc.edu/bishop.
BISHOP CENTER ONLINE
Go Now
May 8, 7 p.m.
Register: bit.ly/35xmb8h
Gordon Marshall, the Moody Blues drummer for over 25 years, formed Go Now to re-create the group’s original arrangements. BiCoastal Productions asked him to put together a show that includes footage from Go Now concert performances as well as some “lockdown” footage created by individual band members as they shelter at home in the U.K. The result is a one-hour trip down memory lane.
A Conversation With Dick Scanlan
May 29, 7 p.m.
Registration info to come later
To introduce this new webinar speaker series, GHC drama director Andrew Gaines will interview Dick Scanlan, co-author and lyricist of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (2002) and author of the upcoming revival “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Scanlan will discuss his career, industry insights and future projects. A Q&A session will follow.
Ten-Minute (or less) Online Play Festival
June 19 and 20, 7 p.m.
Registration info to come later
GHC drama director Andrew Gaines will produce this live-streamed event via Zoom featuring new works by students, alumni, community members and more — all performed remotely by students in his spring Introduction to Acting class.
