Theater companies have been grappling with the question of how to put on shows without putting their audiences at risk since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phoenix Theatre Company took action to answer that question. The downtown Phoenix company is building an outdoor stage that will let it put on high quality performances while allowing the audience to practice social distancing.

Phoenix Theatre Company will premiere new shows on the outdoor stage beginning in November. 

“With the outdoor theatre, every aspect of the patron experience had to be reconsidered and redesigned,” director of production Karla Frederick said in a press release.

“It started as a dream and now I’m happy to say it’s really happening.”

Where the outdoor stage is being built

The new outdoor venue is under construction at Central United Methodist Church, at 1875 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. The church is just one block north of the Phoenix Theatre Company’s three-stage complex.

The customized stage will provide an outdoor venue with room for guests to enjoy live performances while socially distancing. 

The new performance space will accommodate 250 attendees, seated in pairs and distanced 6 feet apart in all directions.

The 32-foot by 24-foot stage has been custom designed to allow production teams to recreate high-production values without sacrificing safety.

A wall of screens will be installed at the back of the stage to increase the flexibility of the space.

“This work is six months in the making,” managing director Vincent VanVleet said in the press release. “We had to make absolutely sure that we could present outdoor shows without increasing the risk to public health. It was a tricky needle to thread, but I couldn’t be prouder of all we’ve accomplished. Best of all, we’ll be helping put some of the country’s finest arts professionals back to work.”

Shows on the new stage begin Nov. 10

The first show on the new stage is “Happy Birthday Dionne,” a tribute to the legendary singer Dionne Warwick. That show runs from Nov. 10-22 and features the popular Phoenix area group, We3.

“UNWRAPPED: An Original Christmas Revue” follows Dec. 1-23. Other shows scheduled are “Reimagined: A Broadway Cabaret” (Jan. 27-Feb. 7), “Murder for Two” (Feb. 17-28), “Ring of Fire” (March 10-April 4) and “My Way” (April 14-May 23).

Tickets are $59.

Conditions permitting, the theater is scheduling to resume live, indoor shows in June with “The Rocky Horror Show” and “Something Rotten!”

Details: phoenixtheatre.com, 602-254-2151.

Elizabeth Montgomery is Arts and Culture Reporter for The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com. Reach her at [email protected] or 602-444-8764. Follow her on Twitter @emontnews. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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