Porchlight Music Theatre says it is postponing its entire 2020-21 season by a full year.
Instead of beginning its previously announced mainstage slate of “Legally Blonde,” “Titanic” and “25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee” at the Ruth Page Arts Center, 1016 N. Dearborn St., this fall, all of those shows will become the 2021-22 subscription season.
In essence, subscribers are being asked to wait another year before being able to see the productions for which they have purchased tickets.
A spokesperson for the company said the decision regarding its 26th season reflects the ongoing uncertainty in the COVID-19 crisis, especially as to when the authorities will allow live theatrical productions to resume in a viable way.
The company, he said, has found it impossible to plan for these major productions, which need a long lead time and heavy upfront investment, and also wishes to prevent inflicting that same lack of predictability on its loyal supporters.
On its face, this looks like one of the longest pandemic postponements in the Chicago theater. However, Porchlight also said it still hopes to produce during the coming 2020-21 season, should circumstances allow.
If so, it plans small productions and cabarets that can be put together more quickly, as the moment demands.