Door Shakespeare Says Good-bye to 2020 Season

The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,

Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light…

        — William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

 

 

We wanted nothing more than to celebrate Door Shakespeare’s 25th Anniversary Summer Season in style, and we brought together an amazing company in order to do just that. Three wonderful productions (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised], Wittenberg, and Hamlet) were going to be brought to life by talented actors, designers, stage managers, directors, interns, and staff – and shared with you, our friends, from May through August.

 

To attend a Door Shakespeare production, in such an idyllic setting, can be a truly memorable experience. One can try to describe the beauty of the grounds, the outdoor intimacy between artist and audience, and all of the other things that go along with it, but trying to put it into words is tough. The experience is all. 

 

Over the last month and a half, Door Shakespeare continued to plan accordingly for the summer months ahead, making adjustments along the way. First, we moved the dates of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] to the back end of our calendar, in the hopes of keeping one step ahead of the coronavirus and the country’s ever-changing landscape. Our second move was to begin rehearsals one week later than scheduled, to give even more distance between the company and the coronavirus.

 

In the end, it comes down to the health and safety of each and every individual, from artist to audience to staff, and we sadly, but rightly, made the call that other theaters across the country have, and that is to cancel Door Shakespeare’s summer production season.

 

Door Shakespeare’s summer theatre education program, Camp Will, will go forward with an online virtual platform. 

 

For those of you who have purchased tickets for Door Shakespeare’s 2020 summer productions, you will be contacted regarding your options.

 

Camp Will campers will be contacted with information on how to participate online.

 

We were informed earlier this week that the facility/grounds of Björklunden, where Door Shakespeare performs, has completely shut down through Labor Day. Björklunden, owned by Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, has been a gracious host to Door Shakespeare over the years, and we look forward to the day when we return.

 

Thank you for your enthusiasm, your patience, and your understanding. Though we know there are many companies going through similar scenarios, it does not lessen our sadness.

 

But it does strengthen the gratefulness that we feel for all of you, and for the commitment you make to Door Shakespeare by joining us on the shores of Lake Michigan, in the Garden at Björklunden.

 

As you probably know, Door Shakespeare relies heavily on ticket sales, concession and merchandise sales, and donations for revenue during our summer months. 

 

If you are able, we hope that you will consider a donation to Door Shakespeare. There are many nonprofit companies here and beyond facing extreme financial challenges. If you feel, like we do, that the arts are a crucial part of Door County’s cultural landscape, please consider supporting us. No amount is too small. No amount is too large.

 

We will continue to stay in touch with you, as we will have updates on what Door Shakespeare’s plans are regarding our Annual Gala, as well as fall and winter programming. 

 

We know that we will meet in the not-too-distant future.

 

Stay safe.

 

With sincere thanks, 

 

Michael Stebbins

Producing Artistic Director

 

Amy Ensign

Managing Director