Downtown Phoenix’s Orpheum Theatre has not escaped the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most entertainment venues across the county, the theatre has postponed shows and canceled performances.
The theatre did reopen briefly in October but “Purple Rain,” the 1984 rock musical starring Prince, was canceled this past weekend because of the rising COVID-19 case numbers.
Most events at the Orpheum have been postponed and will be rescheduled, according to the ticketing website for the Phoenix Convention Center, the Orpheum and Symphony Hall.
“I was actually really looking forward to going back to a theater for the first time since the lockdown,” said Phoenix resident and Prince fan Massaquoi Thames.
All tickets that were purchased for any postponed events will be valid for the new dates. The Orpheum Theatre has closed its ticket office, meaning there are currently no in-person ticket sales.
A review of the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 thresholds and benchmarks led to the postponement of “Purple Rain,” said Jackie Davis, the marketing and communications manager for the three venues. The increase in community spread of the virus is to blame, she said.
“In consultation with the Friends of the Orpheum Theatre, the decision to cancel ‘Purple Rain’ was made out of an abundance of caution after reviewing the indoor theater thresholds outlined in the ADHS document,” Davis said in an email.
Davis said the Orpheum and Symphony Hall are operating under a strategic reopening plan that will be applied to every area of operations in order to help ensure the safety of guests and employees.
“The continued health and safety of our guests, employees, ushers and volunteers is our top priority,” Davis said.
The reopening plan lists five strategies that will be used to reduce the risk of viral spread: constant cleaning and disinfecting, removing touchpoints, requiring personal protective measures such as mask-wearing, physical distancing, increasing communication about the virus with guests, and training staff.
These strategies went into effect when the Orpheum reopened briefly for the weekend of Oct. 24 and 25.
Friends of the Orpheum Theatre Treasurer Laura Lovato Stenzel said that the brief reopening for the weekend showings of “The Wizard of Oz” was incredible.
“It was the first time the Orpheum had shown a major motion picture since December of 1967, so it was a huge big deal for the supporters of the theatre,” she said. “All went well and both sold out audiences seemed to enjoy it.”
The shows and events planned for this year have been pushed back until 2021 or 2022, Davis said.
Despite the postponements, Davis says the Orpheum Theatre is still receiving inquiries about reserving the theatre for events.
“There were several cancellations by touring shows due to rescheduling conflicts. However, we’re still experiencing strong event booking inquiries for the theater,” she said.
The Orpheum is not the only theater feeling the effects of the upward trend in COVID cases.
The Third Street Theater, another downtown Phoenix theater and showroom, is also being cautious when it comes to reopening.
“The theater has been closed since March, requiring the cancellation of shows and performances. There is no timeline for return as of now,” the marketing manager of the Phoenix Center for the Arts, Renee Aguilar said in an email.
The next planned event at the Orpheum Theatre is “Trixie Mattel: All Grown Up” in February 2021, although tickets are not currently available for purchase.
Contact the reporter at ksmallor@asu.edu.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Prince’s name.
