Throughout a year where COVID-19 has continued to affect the Texas Panhandle as a whole, the pandemic has also affected the way arts and entertainment organizations have provided their services and events for members of the community.
Here is a look back at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected eight of the numerous arts and entertainment organizations and venues in the area.
Amarillo Civic Center Complex
As part of the city of Amarillo, the Amarillo Civic Center Complex was first closed for all its gatherings and events in response to guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As the city of Amarillo moved back to Level Yellow on its COVID-19 status level chart, the complex has now reopened some of its parts, hosting various public events such as luncheons, graduations and Amarillo Bulls hockey games.
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In addition, the complex continues to serve as the home of the city of Amarillo’s walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic, giving more than 100,000 vaccinations to thousands of individuals so far.
For more information about the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, visit https://www.amarillociviccenter.com.
Amarillo Little Theatre
After the COVID-19 pandemic initially led to postponed productions at the Amarillo Little Theatre, the organization made history, filming its production of “Anne of Green Gables” and giving people the chance to watch the production from the comfort of their own homes in mid-June.
Since then, the theater has been able to host numerous in-person productions with COVID-19 safety precautions in place. Allen Shankles, the managing and artistic director of the organization, said that hosting entertainment options during the pandemic is something the organization has learned how to do throughout the year.
“We have learned that we can implement some safety protocols and make that work for our audiences and for our volunteers,” Shankles said in a previous Globe-News story. “I think we have proven that we can entertain an audience and not cause a surge in the virus spreading. But you have to strictly adhere to your protocols.”
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In 2021, ALT has thus far hosted productions including “Once,” “Little Women” and “Always a Bridesmaid” at its mainstage and its Adventure Space. The theater is scheduled to host productions including “Matilda The Musical” and “Good People,” both of which are rescheduled from 2020, as well as a production of “The Wizard of Oz” from the theater’s academy students.
For more information about the Amarillo Little Theatre, visit https://amarillolittletheatre.org.
Amarillo Museum of Art
While being temporarily closed at the beginning of the pandemic, officials with the museum pushed out virtual content on its website, ranging from virtual tours as well as interactive art challenges. This gave members of the community the chance to learn about different artists and art periods, recreating their own versions of this art.
After the museum reopened with COVID-19 safety protocols in June, Deana Craighead, the museum’s curator of education, said officials continued to push out content on the museum’s website.
In 2021, the museum continues to host new exhibitions, with continued modified hours and COVID-19 safety precautions, including encouraging people to social distance and wear masks.
For more information about the museum, visit https://www.amoa.org.
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Amarillo Opera
While multiple productions were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Amarillo Opera got the chance to still host numerous performances in the past year, from hosting Three Redneck Tenors to performing the “Billy Goats Gruff” opera outdoors with the Texas Tech University School of Music.
Mary Jane Johnson, the general and artistic director of the Amarillo Opera, said at the time the Three Redneck Tenors performance, gathering 200 people with masks on, outdoors, stood out to her. Johnson said there continues to be conversations about how impactful that performance was.
As of February 2021, the opera is postponing its scheduled Moipei Triplet concert to 2022, as well as the “Hansel and Gretel” performance to early October. Its production of “Remove Shoes Before Entering” is also scheduled for April at Amarillo College.
For more information about the Amarillo Opera, visit http://www.amarilloopera.org.
Amarillo Symphony
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the symphony was postponing, and ultimately canceling, its performances because of concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the closure of the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.
But because of this change, the symphony “re-tuned” its 2020-21 season, moving the majority of its live, in-person, performances to 2021 and having digital performances available to members of the community in September, October and November.
The symphony also went on to shift the in-person concerts in January, February and March 2021 to September, October and November, with the 2021 live concert season running from April to November.
The symphony did have highlights in 2020, hosting an outdoor “Hollywood at Hodgetown” concert at the downtown ballpark, as well as expanding its musical reach by merging with Chamber Music Amarillo to host smaller and more intimate live experiences.
For more information about the Amarillo Symphony, visit https://amarillosymphony.org.
Lone Star Ballet
When the pandemic began, Lone Star Ballet hosted virtual classes for its students, giving them the opportunity to continue to learn while at home.
Beginning in the summer, the company began opening its studios for in-person classes, incorporating many COVID-19 safety protocols including social distancing, increased sanitization as well as not having dancers partner with each other.
But even with the implementation of in-person classes, many of the ballet’s performances had to be canceled, with the closure of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, including the planned performance of “The Nutcracker,” which moved to mid-February but was canceled.
As of now, Lone Star Ballet is moving on with preparations for its April production of “TimeSteps: Rock of the Ages,” scheduled for April 16-17, and “Unleashed,” its set of recitals from the ballet’s seven studios, scheduled for May 21-23.
For more information about the Lone Star Ballet, visit https://lonestarballet.org.
Starlight Ranch Event Center
The Starlight Ranch Event Center started to host in-person concerts in June, as a part of the venue’s “BBQ Concert Series,” featuring artists such as Logan Samford and Scotty Alexander.
In 2021, the venue announced the first eight acts of its summer season, starting with a performance from country artist Charley Crockett on April 30. The season will run through the second week of October, consisting of 18-22 “big-name shows” as well as numerous festivals and other events.
For more information about the 2021 season for the Starlight Ranch Event Center, visit https://www.bigtexan.com/starlight-ranch-event-center/.
Texas Outdoor Musical
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board of directors for the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, the organization which produces the Texas Outdoor Musical, announced its decision to cancel the 2020 season in April after consulting members of the musical’s staff and artistic team.
According to previous Globe-News reports, this was the first time a whole season had been canceled in the musical’s 50-plus year history.
However, officials with the musical are planning to host a 2021 season, which is scheduled to begin May 29. Tickets for the season are currently on sale.
For more information on the production, visit https://ift.tt/2U8i8uM.
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