Stanford University
Stanford University has temporarily closed the Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection to the public through April 15, but outdoor spaces will remain open to everyone. The museums will permit Stanford ID holders into the building.
Stanford has also decided to postpone or cancel events on and off campus likely to attract 50 or more people through May 15, including music concerts, as well as the winter and spring sports seasons, according to an updated health alert posted March 12 by the university.
Canceled events include:
• Second Sunday: Family Day at the Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection on April 12.
• Regularly scheduled public tours at Cantor and Anderson from March 4 through April 15. (Tours will resume on April 16.)
• A members-only morning event celebrating the opening of the "Paper Chase" exhibit.
• All Department of Music concerts and many Stanford Live events.
A full list of event changes can be found at news.stanford.edu.
Theater and film
The threat of coronavirus has also led the Stanford Theatre in downtown Palo Alto to close until further notice. The closure means the last two weeks of the film festival honoring Japanese film director and screenwriter Akira Kurosawa will be suspended. The festival was originally scheduled to end March 15, but the theater hopes to screen the remaining films at another date.
The Pear Theatre in Mountain View has canceled the opening weekend (March 12-15) of its production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," which was planned to run March 12-April 5, according to a March 12 press release. The theater hopes to resume performances as soon as possible, according to the release. Patrons with tickets are being contacted with options for exchange, refund or donation. The release cites new guidelines from the California Department of Public Health that state that gatherings of fewer than 250 people, if held in venues that do not allow social distancing of 6 feet per person, should be postponed or canceled. " Ticket sales for future shows are frozen until ongoing plans can be made," the release states.
As of March 12, all performances at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts have been canceled through March, including Peninsula Youth Theatre productions, according to the city of Mountain View.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has canceled the remaining performances of "They Promised Her the Moon" at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto as well as "Ragtime," which was planned to run April 1-May 5 in Mountain View, the company announced in a March 12 press release. "With rehearsals for Ragtime already begun and sets and costumes in production, it is the company's intention to present 'Ragtime' in April 2021, in place of the previously announced 'Man of La Mancha,'" the release states. Patrons will be contacted by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's box office with options to exchange their tickets for future shows, donate their ticket value in support of TheatreWorks, or other have options, according to the release.
Redwood City's Dragon Productions Theatre Company said in an email on Sunday, March 15, that it is suspending current productions. "To the end of serving our community, we are already working with our playwrights and rights holders on other ways we may be able to share these shows with our Dragon family in digital form," the email states. The company will also update patrons regularly via social media to keep them informed on the status of other programs. Reflecting the harsh reality for many local arts organizations, the company is also asking for donations via Facebook.com. "On April 1, we will pay our rent of about $12,000 to have a theatre when this has blown over, and our staff will pay their rents and mortgages on their homes. We realize everyone is worried, or already getting ready for a financial struggle with what is happening right now, but any financial gifts you are able to make at this time will make a world of difference towards our odds of survival, and we promise, as always to put your support right back to supporting our local community of brilliant artists help us get through this difficult time," the email states.
Menlo-Atherton High School announced on March 11 that it was canceling (or postponing until further notice) its spring production, "Peter and the Starcatcher," which was set to open March 13.
Palo Alto Players announced in an email to patrons March 12 that its gala fundraiser has been moved from April 4 to May 31. Performances of "Matilda," set to open April 24, will go on as planned, but exchange fees will be waived for any tickets purchased, Managing Director Elizabeth Santana said in an email.
Redwood City film nonprofit Bravemaker announced March 12 that it was canceling its planned March and April events, including a screening and discussion of "The Illegal." A film festival scheduled for May is, as of now, still planned to continue.
Los Altos Youth Theatre is canceling this weekend's performances of "She Kills Monsters." Additionally, Los Altos Stage Company's upcoming production of "Sunday in the Park with George" (scheduled for April 9-May 10) has been postponed to next season, according to a March 13 Facebook post. Ticket holders are asked to donate the cost of the tickets for canceled shows back to the theater groups if possible, but can exchange them for tickets to future shows.
Music
Foothill Symphonic Winds ensemble canceled its March 15 concert at Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto, and is considering whether or not to continue with its smaller March 22 concert in Mountain View.
The West Coast Songwriters competition scheduled for March 31 at Cafe Zo
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