Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the rest of Western Canada Theatre’s season, there will be a live, streaming performance of actor's favourite Leonard Cohen songs from Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, one of the planned final productions of WCT's 2020-2021 season.
It was scheduled to run at Sagebrush Theatre from March 26 to April 4.
Instead, five of the show's cast will perform their favourite Cohen tunes on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. from the balconies at the Riverland Inn and Suites.
The performance will be broadcast on Western Canada Theatre’s Facebook page.
WCT artistic director James MacDonald said the pandemic led to rehearsals being cancelled on March 16, the first day cast and crew gathered to begin preparations.
“Most of the performers had no homes to return to, as they were sublet for the duration of the contract,” MacDonald said. “So, they stayed. In self-isolation, they continued to experiment with Cohen’s beautiful music. Here is the result.”
MacDonald said the online performance is being made possible through the National Arts Centre, the Slaight Foundation, Facebook Canada and the company of Chelsea Hotel, which has asked that any donations made through the live event go to Western Canada Theatre.
“These donations will go toward our ability to produce the full version of Chelsea Hotel in the future and to alleviate some the financial losses incurred by the cancellation of the final four productions of the 2019/20 season,” MacDonald said.
