Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre schedules a virtual performance for May 30

While events around the country have been put on hold, the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre is still slated for a show at the end of the month. But it won’t be in the usual format.

Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre is producing a virtual concert of musical theater that will be broadcast from the homes of its performers to the screens of its audience.

“This is something new for us,” says Director Tracey Vaughan in a press release. “In the world of COVID-19, we are thinking outside of the norm and finding ways to reach our audience.”

The performance will be broadcast via Zoom conference on Saturday, May 30, at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at cdasummertheatre.com or by calling 208-660-2958.

“One of the things that was kind of cool about it is that we’re able to have people from all over the country perform,” she says.

Theater alumni in New York, Texas, Seattle and Boise are able to perform right alongside their Inland Northwest counterparts via Zoom. There won’t be any special lighting or technology to aid performers, and musical accompaniment depends on the performers' own availability, Vaughan says.

The theme for the event is “Just Around the Corner,” says Chuck Etheridge, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre artistic associate. The lineup of performances includes songs such as "Something's Coming," from West Side Story (sung by Brandon Michael); "Pure Imagination," from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (sung by Callie McKinney-Cabe); and "Suddenly Seymour," from Little Shop of Horrors (sung by David Eldridge and Amy D'Orazi).

“Just like everyone else doing anything virtual, we’re going to learn a lot about what works and doesn’t work,” Vaughan says. “We're also trying to gather support.”

The theater had to cancel some of its fundraising events and shows through May, like an annual cruise and concert on Lake Coeur d’Alene. But the virtual tour helps make up for that, Vaughan says.

Patrons will be able to participate in a Q&A with the performers during the event, during which Vaughan says the theater will try to encourage people to donate.

“We just want to try out the format and see if we can get some support,” she says.

“There’s so much to deal with as an arts organization that feels so heavy and so difficult with this COVID situation,” Vaughan says. “The world is feeling that as well. We’d like to bring them some entertainment. We’re just so hopeful that this is positive for us and positive for our patrons.”