The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a financial strain on arts organizations, including Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center.
The PAC management team projects they’ll be down about $1 million, largely the result of touring Broadway shows being postponed until at least 2021.
"You’re talking five big Broadway shows that are being moved off the calendar the remainder of 2020, and then you’ve got another four or five headliner acts that had to be moved," said CEO Mark Frie.
While they secured a Paycheck Protection Program loan, the toll of losing so many shows that would have been staged in the 2,365-seat Chapman Music Hall requires some cuts.
"No terminations, but we have kind of a phased furlough plan in place for about 90% of our employee that starting in July will go on some type of furlough of different lengths depending upon what their job is and what our forecast is for what we can do in the fall," Frie said.
Frie said local productions may return in the fall. He hopes touring productions decide limited runs in the middle of the U.S. where COVID-19 case numbers have been lower are worth a try if national tours stay on hold into next year.
Ticket holders for postponed shows can contact the PAC ticket office for help.
