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This page offers all of Delaware Public Media's ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting the First State. Check here regularly for the latest new and information.

Delaware Shakespeare Summer Festival postponed until 2021

Another major summer festival is not happening this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Delaware Shakespeare’s (Del Shakes) board and staff recently postponed this summer’ production of “The Tempest” until the summer of 20-21.

“You know - it’s sad but not unexpected. As Gov. Carney keeps issuing guidelines for Delaware reopening, ya know - things have become clearer for us. We were trying to hold off our decision as long as we could. But once it became clear that physical distancing measures were going to be in place for quite a bit longer, particularly for large public gatherings, there just didn’t seem to be any safe way that we could go forward,” said David Stradley - the producing artistic director of Del Shakes.

Stradley also points out that social distancing requirements would have limited audiences at Rockwood Park in north Wilmington to about 100 people when performances began on July 17, 2020.

Stradley says Shakespeare-loving fans can still get a bit of the Bard online where Del Shakes actors and actresses are reading sonnets each weekday.

"You can find them everywhere that Delaware Shakespeare is - so on our Facebook page, on our Instagram feed, on YouTube," said Stradley. We started that about two days after the stay-at-home orders were given to us here in Delaware. And we’ve developed so many great relations with wonderful actors/actresses over the years. And they are unfortunately, all out of work right now.”

Stradley adds Delaware Shakespeare is still hopeful it can offer something in person this summer, noting it is developing contingency plans for a smaller-scale event at Rockwood Park if public health conditions improve.

 

You can get more information here.

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.