WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:39 — 11.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Q: Jonah Crismore, Executive Director of the Buskirk Chumley Theater, thank you for coming onto the WFHB Local News.
A: Oh, thank you very much for having me.
Q: The Buskirk Chumley Theater is now requiring vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test for the fall season. What led you to make that call ahead of the fall theater season?
A: For us specifically, it came from a few different angles that we were working. We recently surveyed our audiences, our patrons, and it overwhelmingly showed support for a vaccine requirement or negative COVID test. Our respondents that came to about over 80% were in favor of that from our patrons, those are our regular ticket buyers. Also, artists are on tour right now, you know, it kind of started as this gentle kind of trickle of our requests here and there, if we could do it. And then before you know it, every artist was requiring it. So it just became a matter of practicality, as well, that all the artists were requiring it. So, to create some semblance of, or just trying to keep some stability, we decided that the whole season should have COVID vaccine or negative COVID tests along with your ticket purchase, when you come to see an event here at the BCT. All in all, it’s also what we feel like the best way to ensure that we can keep our communities as safe as we possibly can, while still being able to do what we do, which is have gatherings of concert goers and music fans.
Q: Early on in the pandemic, many of your shows were canceled due to Covid-19. This affected touring artists, the venue and the livelihood of theater staff. Would you touch on the push and pull of wanting to remain open, while trying to protect theater goers from the virus?
A: Yeah, I mean, safety is our first priority, always. We want to make sure that when we have events here that people remain safe and may remain healthy. You know, one strategy that has been great is the vaccine and masking, which is in Monroe County, is another great thing. So when we marry those two things together, along with social distancing, when possible, with enhanced cleaning, we’re doing everything we can to create an experience where the concert can still happen. We’re keeping our staff safe, we’re keeping the artists safe. And most of all, we’re keeping our community safe, while we’re still able to fulfill the mission of our organization, which is to fill the historic record company stage with programming throughout the year. And also, you mentioned the livelihood of our theater staff, which is very, very important. But you know, the livelihood of our artists is very, very important. And many of our artists, this is how they make their living. And it’s just as a financial certainty that many of them would not be able to continue on with their careers as being an artist if they did not go on tour this season.
Q: You’re the first large venue to come right out and say “we’re requiring vaccines or a negative Covid test.” I’ve seen other local venues do this, The Orbit Room and The Atlas for example. Do you think this idea will catch on at other local organizations?
A: I believe it’s the only way forward, at least for the foreseeable future, to do this in a safe, responsible manner. And you’re seeing that – both the East and West Coast had already started to require it. While Lollapalooza in Chicago started to require it, and shortly after that, several other venues in Chicago started to require it. Now, venues in Indianapolis are requiring it. I feel like it’s just a matter of time before this is just what the industry standard is. And it’s going to be much stranger to go to a place that they don’t require them to, than they do.
Q: Overall, this move is clearly to incentivize people to get the vaccine and to limit transmission of the virus. Why is this important to the Buskirk?
A: Well, we don’t want another shutdown to happen. You know, we’re very happy and very lucky that we’re in Monroe County where people are taking the pandemic seriously, and they are doing everything they can to keep themselves and those around them safe. But, we just don’t know what the future would hold for the performing arts in not just Bloomington, Indiana, but the whole region and even on a national scale, if a shutdown starts to occur again. So we feel that getting vaccinated is one of those fast tracks to being able to have live concerts in a safe and responsible manner. Again, adhering to the masking mandates is another thing we can do to keep everybody safe. And ultimately, we want to keep this communal experience alive. And we can do that as we’re looking out for each other and the members of that community, and making sure that we’re doing everything we can to not spread this very infectious disease.
Q: Would you touch on what you have planned in terms of programming for the fall season? Would you go over some of the highlights the Buskirk Chumley has in store?
A: Sure, well, we’re very excited that September 30, we’re going to be having Kenny Wayne Shepherd. He’s some you know, another artist who has been affected by the pandemic, and that we originally had him scheduled for August 30. But a member of his crew had COVID-like symptoms. So, they had to take a break from the tour, but we’re able to get them rescheduled later on. So, we’re still excited to have that show happen. Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies, he’s going to be playing some of his hits, as well as some of his solo work. And we’re excited about having him, which is on September 22, I believe. And then, we have a whole list of great stuff coming down the pipe. We have Iron and Wine, a venerable indie singer-songwriter on November 19th. September 15th, we have Kathleen Edwards, another amazing singer-songwriter. So, we’re really doing everything we can to make sure that the Musical Arts continue on with another act of we’re very excited about Kevin James Thorton. He’s an actor and comedian and on October 1st, we’re gonna have him on our stage. He’s somebody who’s done a one man show and done several other things, but he got another, his career got a whole new wind when he started going on Tik Tok, and having these telling these kind of confessional stories about growing up in Evansville, Indiana, in the 90s as a as a gay man in a very conservative evangelical environment. And he’s just great. I’m very excited to see what kind of stories he tells and how he tells us. He’s somebody who can make you laugh and cry in just a 30 seconds span and is just an amazing storyteller.
Q: If folks want to find out more information on the upcoming fall schedule, where should they go?
A: Buskirkchumley.org is our website. It’s the best way to find out about this, if there’s any changes to our schedule, and everything following us on social media is a great way just to kind of stay informed if anything pops up. Or if there’s any changes to policies such as our new mat, the mask mandate when that was enacted, or our new vaccine verification and COVID-19 testing policies – social media is the best way to kind of keep up with those things. So, we have multiple different levels and of course on our website, you can sign up for our email list and that will give you new show announcements and you’ll be the first to know about things.
Q: Jonah Crismore, Executive Director of the Buskirk Chumley Theater, thank you for your time.
A: Thank you.
