Hello Suzartians,

I hope you are all keeping healthy and doing well. These are strange and stressful times we're living through.

I wanted to update all of you on the state of the company and our plans for the future. Our amazing board of directors continues to meet regularly and discuss how we navigate this new reality. We've been actively communicating with the NCAC and Centrepointe, as well as our sister companies to try to understand the implications for live performance, and in particular musical theatre, in the midst of a pandemic.

Sadly, what we've concluded is that there is currently no way to rehearse or perform without risking the health of our patrons and members.

As a result, the board of directors has made the difficult decision to postpone our 2020/2021 season. The shows we had planned for 2020/2021 (Oliver and Hair) will be moved to the following season.

We've also decided to cancel Addams Family altogether and re-evaluate our spring show for 2022 at a later time.

We have also postponed (again) Hairspray - moving it from September 2020 to May of 2021. We are hopeful that we will be able to safely gather in January of 2021 and start singing and dancing again.

We will continue to monitor public health recommendations and will always make our decisions with the health and safety of our members and performers as the top priority.

This means no Suzart shows until at least May 2021 - a full year from now. This puts Suzart at risk of losing the ability to pay for costume and props storage and other operating costs that are normally supported through production revenue.

As a result we are asking you, our members and patrons, to help us sustain our operating costs while we weather this storm. Your financial support will allow us to survive and continue to put on productions once government restrictions are lifted.

You can donate to Suzart Productions by clicking on http://suzart.ca/donate or directly by cheque (made out to Suzart Productions) addressed to:

276 Atlantis Avenue | Ottawa ON | K2A 1X6

Our amazing artistic director Catherine Spear is working on some online programs to help us stay connected and creative while we are weathering this storm. Keep an eye out for an email from her very soon.

Thank you for supporting Suzart, and community theatre. We wish you good health and courage as we move through these difficult times toward a better tomorrow.

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Scott Shepherd

President - Suzart Productions