The last show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater before the pandemic hit was March 13, 2020. Jonah Crismore started as executive director just three days later, arriving just in time for a year of uncertainty.
Crismore, who came from the Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne, says he and his team immediately had to cancel shows, refund tickets and try to plan for what was next.
“So that was like a lot of flux, a lot of you know, just not sure of what the next day was going to hold, that was really the first few months and especially that first month," he said.
Since then, the theater has hosted virtual performances and some in-person screenings and performances with limited capacity, but the activity is nothing compared to its busy, pre-pandemic lineup.
“Because we live in a world where we can’t be dependent on ticket sales, we’ve kind of shifted our focus to being one where we’re trying to be much more of a philanthropic organization, engaging with our donors," Crismore said.
He says the theater has also received grants that have kept it afloat and will apply for the new Shuttered Venue Operators Grant through the federal government.
FROM JUNE 2020: Buskirk-Chumley Theater Director Talks Challenges To Local Arts During Pandemic
Looking forward, Crismore predicts more in-person performances at the BCT in the near future. But the theater will remain at limited-capacity and masks will be required for at least the next few months.
Crismore says the touring industry hopes that everything will be back to normal in the fall but he says the BCT will move step by step to follow county health department guidelines.
The local arts community has suffered during the pandemic but Crismore says he has seen new ideas that may help keep the arts scene alive. Some of the smaller local groups are thinking of combining in the future to pool resources and stay afloat.
Crismore says despite the difficulties groups had, many helped him during his first year in town.
“The arts community has been very very welcoming and very helpful in many different ways in kind of showing me the lay of the land which is just what I needed the most," he said.
Crismore and his staff also are planning for the BCT’s 100 th birthday in 2022 to celebrate the history of the theater.
