Greenhouse Theater Center’s general manager resigns in protest over live show’s opening during pandemic

Greenhouse Theater Center’s general manager resigns in
protest over live show’s opening during pandemic 1

Derek Rienzi Van Tassel, the general manager of The Greenhouse Theater Center, has resigned his post in protest of what he calls the “foolish and dangerous” decision by the company to open a live theater show this weekend.

The production, a remount of “Judy & Liza, Once in a Lifetime: The London Palladium Concert — A Tribute” starring Nancy Hays (as Judy Garland) and Alexa Castelvecchi (as Liza Minnelli), is slated to run July 24-August 9 at the theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Via Facebook on Thursday, Rienzi Van Tassel announced his decision to exit the job, calling out the owners of the Greenhouse Theater Center: “William Spatz and Wendy Spatz are not friends of the Chicago Theater Community. Their decision to reopen The Greenhouse with a show this weekend is foolish and dangerous. The theater is in the epicenter of the virus, Lincoln Park, and they have not thoroughly addressed their safety precautions. Reopening right now in the middle of this pandemic will only spread the virus further, cause another lockdown, and put more theater artists out of work. This is unacceptable. And their rude responses to anyone who has shown them resistance (including demeaning prominent and respected theater artists) further highlights the Spatz’s lack of empathy.”

In a story published in Thursday’s Sun-Times about the production, the Spatzes (who are on a Florida trip that was prolonged by COVID-19) said that while they don’t feel safe traveling to Chicago for the opening, they stress that they would feel safe attending their show.

In that story, Spatz said various safety precautions have been put in place at the theater that “either meet or exceed the Illinois Health Department’s Phase Four Guidelines.” Audience capacity is capped at 36 people for the Center’s 200-seat mainstage. In addition, tickets must be purchased in advance and all attendees must wear masks the entire time they’re in the theater (including during the show). No ushers will be on-site and no programs will be distributed. Every other row of seats will remain empty and six-foot social distancing will be adhered to.

Veteran Broadway and television star Alexandra Billings was among those on social media calling for the cancellation of the production. In one Facebook post, Billings wrote: “Theaters were designed to spread a joyful noise, not a contagious virus.”

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Rienzi Van Tassel was supportive of the cast on Facebook, but urged the public not to attend the show. “The show they are opening is a Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli tribute show with Nancy Hays, Alexa Castelvecchi, and Robert Ollis — all of whom are lovely people in my experiences. … Please please please do not put yourself or anyone else at risk of contracting the virus by seeing this show!!”

Contributing: Catey Sullivan

More to come…

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