Updated March 15, 2020, 7:40pm
Friends,
With the health and safety of our students, staff, and audience as our priority and in an effort to do our part to protect the most vulnerable during the current pandemic— YAA is making a number of changes to our programming.
We are postponing our production of Beauty and the Beast with Alan Menken. The performance (originally scheduled for March 28) has been rescheduled for June 12, 2020, at 7:30pm, at the Music Center at Strathmore. Tickets already purchased will automatically be transferred to the new June 12 performance date.
All current ticket holders will be contacted by email by the Strathmore box office early this week with more information. Strathmore will be glad to handle all ticket-related questions at that time. Additional tickets for the June 12 date can still be purchased here.
YAA is also temporarily halting all rehearsals and classes effective immediately. Currently registered students will be notified separately about plans for moving forward.
At this time we are keeping our May 2 & 3 dates for Frozen JR at AMP by Strathmore. However, we will be re-evaluating this over the coming days.
At this time, we have every intention of proceeding with our summer programming. However, we will also be reevaluating as the situation evolves.
Now, more than ever, we are sustained by your support and the faith you continue to show in our shared mission of supporting youth performing arts.
Kris and Rolando Sanz and I, and everyone at YAA, hopes you stay safe and well. We look forward to the day when we can all gather safely again to watch our students take the stage.
Sincerely,
Lisa Larragoite
Executive Director
Young Artists of America at Strathmore
Updated March 12, 2020, 11:30am
Dear YAA Family,
A lot has happened in the past 24 hours in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am sure that many of you are anxious about how daily life will proceed over the coming days, weeks, or even months. We want to reiterate that our students’ well-being is ALWAYS at the forefront of our minds. We are all fortunate to be able to devote our extra time and energies to this art form that we love so much called musical theatre, and our students’ passion in their work towards Beauty & the Beast and Frozen JR, as well as their efforts in their classes, has been awesome and inspirational.
There are still many unknowns about what will be possible for the communities in which we live in the coming days and weeks. What we do know is that all recommendations are for folks to hunker down for the short term (at least) for the well-being of our communities.
As a result, we have decided to cancel all rehearsals and classes scheduled for TONIGHT, Thursday, March 12, and Saturday, March 14. We have been working hard over the past week to come up with various contingency plans for our upcoming productions and classes, and we will continue to finalize a course of action in the coming days.
Our hope is to be able to be back in touch with you by this Sunday evening, March 15, with an update of what our course forward will be with our upcoming programming. You have our word that we will continue to be completely transparent with our plans, and that those plans will be made with the safety and welfare of our students and families as our first priority. While right now, we might have to take a pause in rehearsals and classes, our current goal is still to provide our students with outstanding learning and performance opportunities, be it as scheduled, or in the near future.
That is what we know for now. We promise to share more on Sunday evening and as the situation continues to unfold. Thanks so much for your flexibility with us, as well as for trusting us with your kids. YAA is what it is because of YOU, and we never take that for granted.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, Kris, Paul, or Lisa with any questions or concerns.
Rolando Sanz
Producing Artistic Director
Young Artists of America at Strathmore