Abbey Players set to reopen doors

On Feb. 9, 2020, Abbey Players performed their last closing night of Darkside. While in rehearsal for Xanadu, a show that was supposed to open on April 17, 2020, the Abbey Players, much like the rest of the world, had to close the doors to their businesses indefinitely.
“When the governor shut things down in March of last year, Xanadu kept rehearsing after the stay-at-home order was lifted, even holding auditions for Little Shop of Horrors,” Mitchell Prudhomme, President of the Abbey Players said. “When it looked like the worst of the pandemic might have been over, but we were wrong.”
As we all know, it lasted much longer than expected. While the theatre has been dark, Prudhomme said that they’ve had a couple of virtual events. “But we haven’t been able to hold live performances, which is what we thrive on,” he said.
Prudhomme is happy about the Abbey Players reopening. “It means we survived,” he said. “Our supporters are extremely patient.” Abbey Players main source of revenue is the box office, but being unable to perform didn’t mean that bills stopped coming in, but Prudhomme thanks his patrons who helped. “We are incredibly lucky to have such amazing patrons who’s generous gifts kept us going,” said Prudhomme.
At the end of April, Governor John Bell Edwards lifted the restrictions that prevented performances for the theatre, but were still unable to sing on the stage with an audience. “We held auditions because of this,” Prudhomme said, “for the summer youth show, which is usually a musical. This year, however, due to the restrictions, we chose to play The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which is currently being directed by Michelle Flott.
Prudhomme, his cast and crew and his audience is eager to get back to normal. About a week ago, the governor’s new order lifted all restrictions on operations. This means that the two already-casted musicals can finally take the stage and invite people in. “Literally just this past week, we finalized our new dates for both Xanadu (directed by Kaleigh Lay that’s running September 10-26 and Little Shop of Horrors (directed by Lauren Dartez that’s running October 15-24,” Prudhomme said.
It will surely be a quick turnaround since it means that the Abbey Players will have one extra show this season, but both shows have already had some rehearsal under their belts. “After that, we will hold the other shows that were supposed to be performed last season, which is Our Christmas play named Sorry! Wrong Chimney, which will be running in December as well as our spring musical, Bonnie and Clyde, running early next year,” he said.
Excitement for being able to perform in front of an audience wasn’t all the team was excited about. “We were very surprised that there will be no limitations on attendance since the governor lifted those restrictions, but of course we will still do our part to sanitize and clean, but other than that, aside from being cautious, we will be running business as usual,” Prudhomme was happy to say.
Previously sold season tickets or general admission tickets will still be honored for Xanadu. Season tickets for this year, beginning with Little Shop, will be available soon.
For more dates and times, visit Abbey Players’ Facebook page or visit abbeyplayers.com.