Writing in the New York Times recently, journalist Laura Collins-Hughes lamented the loss of live theatre and the grief that she, and in truth many of us, are understandably experiencing as we anxiously and optimistically await the return of live performance of music, theatre, dance and other art forms.

“Plenty of people, starved for theatre, are gorging on it digitally. But to feel its full force, you have to be there….  It’s not overdramatic to speak of grief, a freighted word that we associate with death, but that is simply the sorrow that comes with heavy loss…. Uncertainty makes it scary, not knowing what damage will be irreparable by the time the field reanimates. Which companies, artists, careers will make it through?” she asked.

That’s an appropriate sentiment and a valid concern in this time of COVID-19. Longtime patrons of Thomasville Entertainment Foundation form palpable, if not really tangible, relationships with the internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles they’ve seen live on our stages. 

Chris Brubeck has brought his Triple Play jazz trio to Thomasville on four occasions; pianist Peter Nero has shared his talents with us three times. Vocal ensemble Chanticleer has made the lineup in four different seasons, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has come to Thomasville on eight occasions. Various configurations from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and American Chamber Players have been audience favorites over the years. This pandemic is sidelining them all.

“This is the anxiety that rolls and percolates, mixed with all the sadness and futility. What theatre people do,” Collins-Hughes writes, “is put on a show; what audience members do is gather. It’s ritual; it’s reflex. It is also, in any conventional sense, largely inoperable right now.”

This week, Thomasville Entertainment Foundation mailed exclusive renewal packets to nearly 300 mailboxes across south Georgia and north Florida that serve our current season ticket holders. Around August 1, we will publicly announce our 2020-21 lineup of performing artists and ensembles and begin accepting new season ticket orders. At the same time, the number of corona virus cases is rising, and there is certain uncertainty about our ability to successfully present this, our 83rd performance season.

Some might say this is more than cautious optimism, but TEF’s volunteer board of trustees is as committed to our mission as ever. Our nonprofit organization was founded during the Great Depression, and it has soldiered on through war, recession, natural disaster and, now, pandemic. 

What Collins-Hughes writes of drama is true of all live performance: “Physical presence is part of the essence of theatre; so is occupying a common space. That communion is what we’re after; that communion is what the vigil is for. There’s not a chance we’ll let that candle get snuffed out.”

Will we face challenges with audience spacing, venue changes and hand sanitizer availability? Probably. Will we see virus-related cancellations, postponements and rescheduling? Possibly.

But Thomasville Entertainment Foundation will, as we always have, soldier on, bolstered by the overwhelming generosity of and support from our community — the ticket holders, volunteers, program book advertisers and financial supporters with whom we have shared impactful communal experiences in darkened auditoriums for generations.

Many of our season ticket holders have been attending TEF concerts for 20 or 30 years; a good number have been our supporters for 40, even 50 years; we even boast a few nonagenarians who attended TEF performances during our first decade!

They have been here for us, and we will be there for them.

Rick Ivey serves as just the third artistic leader for Thomasville Entertainment Foundation since its founding in 1937. A longtime TEF concert attendee, supporter, volunteer and trustee, he was named executive and artistic director in January 2019.