Statement issued from TLP: Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), the premier professional summer theatre of northwest Illinois, announces the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 complications. All TLP performances will be cancelled until 2021. “Next week, we would have celebrated the World Premiere of What a Wonderful World.” said Dan Danielowski, Executive Director of TLP. “To have to make this decision is very disappointing to all of us.”
With the governor’s Phase 4 Guidelines to Reopen Illinois, TLP would have been limited to only fifty patrons per show. “Not only is it tough to play to 50 people in a 400 seat theatre,” stated Danielowski, “we have already pre-sold more than double the number of tickets that we could allow in the theatre per production.”
Over fifty company members’ contracts had to be released due to the closures. “Although they were disappointed in hearing the season was cancelled,” said Artistic Director, Paul Stancato, “They understood and expected this decision.” The thirty-seven Resident Company members and Guest Company come from all around the country. “As of today, we are not sure what shows or concerts will be scheduled in 2021,” said Stancato. “There are a lot of details to work out including availability of titles and concert schedules.” TLP will be working on that schedule over the next few weeks.
With the cancellation of shows and concerts, TLP will focus the remainder of the season on their education offerings and online, virtual events. The education offerings include a wide array of virtual classes held online and on-campus camps and workshops. “We will also present virtual performances,” said Danielowski. “We are presently working on a concert featuring past TLP artists and a TLP Through the Years featuring clips from past seasons and interviews with artists. TLP will also open an on-line store featuring items from the TLP Gift Shop.
Patrons will have several options to use their subscriptions or tickets purchased for this season. Subscription holders may exchange their 2020 Subscriptions for next year’s 2021 Season Subscription. Concert or show ticketholders can convert their tickets into gift certificates that can be used for anything at TLP including registration for education programs, online purchases from the Gift Shop, or next year’s tickets and subscriptions. Gift Certificates never expire. Subscription and ticket holders may also ask for a refund. TLP would encourage refunds to be taken in the form of a gift certificate. Of course, unused tickets or subscriptions can be donated to TLP to help get through this difficult financial time.
For more information, visit our website at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call the Box Office at (815) 244-2035 Monday through Friday between 10:00 and 5:00. The Box Office will remain open through July 17.
