Commonwealth Theatre Center cares deeply about the safety of our patrons, artists, staff, and the general public. Our top priority, at this time, is to adhere to governmental and local guidelines put in place to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
We are working in tandem with state & local government officials, JCPS, and other local cultural institutions — as well as following recommendations of the CDC regarding best practices for convening our various stakeholders. As such, the following decisions have been made that affect this weekend's scheduled programming:
A Streetcar Named Desire performances scheduled for March 12-29 are postponed. CTC is looking into possibly adding performances between April 2-11. Many factors will enter into that decision, especially the status of COVID-19 in our community and the recommendations of state & local officials, the CDC, and other key decision-makers.
We'll post updates as they become available, and we sincerely hope we're able to bring this amazing show to audiences at that time.
To view CTC's full announcement about this postponement, please follow the link below:
https://www.commonwealththeatre.org/2020/03/cancellations-and-postponements/
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation during the coming days and weeks. Please visit the CTC website or follow the Facebook page for the most up-to-date information, and as always, feel free to reach out to us with questions or concerns.
After losing the family estate, the spectacularly flawed and tragically fragile Blanche du Bois finds herself in the middle of her baby sister’s rundown French Quarter apartment and her marriage. Under pressure from her new reality, Blanche begins to crumble.
This production of A Streetcar Named Desire is set in 1965, the year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Stella and Stanley are in a mixed marriage and live in a predominantly black neighborhood in the French Quarter of New Orleans. When Blanche, a former debutante and plantation owner, arrives to visit her sister she is surprised and dismayed by both the marriage and the surroundings.
“Updating the setting and casting allows our Professional Company in Residence to dive even further into the deep ambiguity and racial themes of Williams’ 1947 masterpiece,” said director Hallie Dizdarevic. “With this lens we explore ideas about dehumanization, gentrification, white privilege, the changing landscape of America in 2020, and how a lifetime of micro and macro aggressions ultimately lead to the tragic climax.”
For sold out shows, reserved tickets will be released to those on standby five minutes before the show starts. Box office opens 1 hour before curtain, with house opening 30 minutes before curtain. Parking is on-street (parallel, no meters) or in the lot at the rear of the theatre.
Join us for a special panel discussion!
Immediately following the Sunday, March 22nd matinee performance
A Streetcar for the 21st Century: Examining the Impact of Systematic Oppression and Resistance to America's Evolving Racial Landscape.
In our production, set in 1965, Stella and Stanley are in a mixed marriage and live in a predominantly black neighborhood in the French Quarter of New Orleans. In this casting, Blanche becomes representative of the American tradition of romanticizing "the good old days" that were---in reality---only good for the oppressors. With Stanley, it allows us to explore the impact of a lifetime of racial trauma and how it influences his behavior, ultimately leading to the tragic climax. Please join our expert panelists as we discuss the show in a historical context and it's impact on a contemporary audience. Discussion will last within an hour with light refreshments, no tickets required.