Millbrook Announces Scaled Back 2020 Season

RecordStaffApril 21, 2020Last Updated: April 21, 2020

4 minutes read

MILL HALL – Millbrook Playhouse on Sunday announced a greatly scaled back summer season of theater, with only one show from the original schedule, Grand Legends, still on the seasonal slate, scheduled for a late August run. A number of other events, including a children’s show, are planned for later in the year. The playhouse’s 57th season had been scheduled to start in June.

Playhouse officials said that in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, they “will use ingenuity, creativity and resilience to make something beautiful for our community to share.”

The full playhouse announcement:

April 19, 2020

Dear Friends,

With the health of our guests, artists, staff, and community as the paramount concern, Millbrook Playhouse has chosen to move it’s Ryan Mainstage and Poorman Cabaret 2020 season to the summer of 2021. But we believe the show must go on.

We will still be going forward with our special engagement “GRAND LEGENDS!” and a children’s show later in the summer when it is safer to do so. We made this decision with careful and meticulous attention to our community leaders, government officials, and experts working to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Millbrook Playhouse began 57 years ago with the mission to bring the splendor of live theatrical experiences to our community in Central Pennsylvania. Since then, the theater has persevered and welcomed moments where we could turn obstacles into opportunities. With our current world climate, we all have been met with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, but we here at Millbrook pledge to do what we have always done as artists. We will use our ingenuity, creativity, and resilience to make something beautiful for our community to share. The theatrical offerings this summer will look different than the shows you’ve seen before, but together we will build a new way to safely come together to share the magic of live theater.

SHOWS THAT WILL GO ON

Currently, we still plan to go ahead with several productions this year beginning in the late summer. More information will be released as we make decisions on programming for the rest of the year. While other productions, concerts, and experiences may be added to our summer based on we anticipate the following:

• GRAND LEGENDS!
• A summer children’s musical to be announced.
• A fall children’s musical to be announced.
• A fall show during our annual “Fall in Mill Hall” celebration.
• A winter show surrounding the holiday season.

It is our job as creative individuals to think outside of the box, and this unprecedented moment in our community is no exception. Please know that here at Millbrook, we will continue to innovate new ways of connecting through live theater, and creatively support our friends, patrons, and community. Be safe, be healthy, and know that we will be ready with open arms to welcome you back to the theater when we can all be together again.

TICKET EXCHANGES AND REFUNDS

• All ticket sales have temporarily been suspended.
• Millbrook is currently transitioning to a new ticket system. As we do so, this year’s planned 57th season productions (with the exception of Grand Legends), and Camp programs will be moved to the Summer of 2021. All current Season and Patron Flex Passes, as well as current seat selections and additional single tickets that have been purchased, will be rolled over intact into next year and into the new schedule.
• Once this process is complete (we estimate about two weeks), subscribers will receive an email with more specifics regarding the new schedule, along with a link to a survey where you may indicate your intentions toward the status of your tickets/subscriptions, and our box office staff will process these as quickly as possible. Those without email addresses on file will be contacted by the box office staff directly. We will also make Patron and Season Flex Passes available at the current pre-April 15th prices and the number of tickets.
• Grand Legends will remain on the current schedule for August 27th through 30th and will continue to be included in the current Patron/Season Flex Pass. Depending on changing conditions/demand, we may add more performances for that production.
• Tickets will remain available for LIVE WIRE on September 12th at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, and BREWS IN THE BARN on Saturday, October 3rd, and will be on sale on the new ticket platform.
• About the new ticket platform: As soon as we are ready, links will be updated on the website and you will be directed to the new order system. Login IDs from the old system have been moved over to the new one however you will have to reset passwords. You will receive an additional email from us with links and more detailed instructions on this, but it should be a fairly straightforward and transparent process.
• We will have further information for you as soon as we make a determination on the Fall and Winter shows, and if conditions permit, other features we are able to add during the summer.
• If you have any difficulty with your new accounts or have any questions at all, you may contact us by email at boxoffice@millbrookplayhouse.org or call 570-748-8083 Option 1. Per restrictions, the Playhouse is currently closed and our limited off-season staff is all working remotely. Please leave a message and we will get back to you as quickly as volume permits.
• In the meantime – the box office staff thank you for your patience as we work through all these issues, and we will let you know as sales resume on all our events!