PURE Theatre's production of Constellations by Nick Payne, the company's previously planned return to live and streaming performances at the Battery Gadsden Cultural Center on Sullivan's Island, will face delays due to COVID-19.
The company said that “non-negotiable policy changes recently instituted by Actors' Equity Association will postpone the remount of PURE's critically acclaimed May 2016 Southeastern regional premiere production.”
PURE Theatre plans to produce Constellations in October 2021 in partnership with Battery Gadsden Cultural Center. The production will be included in a new program called “October Nights,” a series of live performances, which will take place outside in the unique setting of the Cultural Center.
“Of course we're disappointed, but we've grown accustomed to pivoting. It's just where we all are right now,” said Sharon Graci, PURE Theatre's Artistic Director and the Director of Constellations. “We're excited about every step we take toward returning to live performances, including having a cast and crew who are all fully vaccinated, which is the single most important thing that we can all do to return to normal. There are some things that are out of our control, and we just aren't able to make the production happen just yet.”
PURE Theatre is a professional theatre company with a history of employing both union and non-union actors in their productions. In response to COVID-19, Actors' Equity Association, the stage actors union, is limiting contracts for Equity actors in theatres that do not have an individual bargaining agreement with Equity. Paul Rolfes, who plays Roland, one of only two characters in Payne's beguiling, multiverse love story, is a member of Actors' Equity and cannot work until the union lifts the restriction in July 2021.
“Constellations is going to be beautiful, set outdoors at Battery Gadsden Cultural Center, and honestly, it makes my job producing our new series, October Nights, easier,” Graci said. “Of all of our plays, Constellations is the play that receives the most requests for us to remount. It's just that lovely.”
Information about Constellations, “October Nights,” and PURE's upcoming season, will be announced on PURE's website and social media pages. Patrons are encouraged to sign up for PURE's email list and to follow the company on its social media platforms to receive the most up to date information.
