Sharon Playhouse Closes "Oliver!" Early

Sharon Playhouse Closes "Oliver!" Early

Photo courtesy of Sharon Playhouse.

The Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, Conn., has announced the early closure of its production of the musical "Oliver!," which was planned to have its final performances this weekend, running through Sunday, Aug. 20. There will be no future performances of the show following the news that an unnamed number of "Oliver!" cast members tested positive for COVID. Cast and staff at The Sharon Playhouse are currently quarantining.

As Debra A. Aleksinas wrote in The Lakeville Journal this week: "Several health care facilities in the Northwest Corner, including Geer Village Senior Community in North Canaan, Conn.,  Sharon Health Care Center (SHCC) in Sharon Conn., and Sharon Hospital have seen an uptick in infections. The trend is statewide. Over the past three weeks the number of patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 infections has increased from 66 hospitalizations for the week ending July 8 to 103 hospitalizations the week ending July 29, according to Chris Boyle, spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH)."

So far, The Playhouse has not cancelled performances for the upcoming youth theater production of the musical "Newsies" opening on Friday, Aug. 25, or the main stage production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," opening on Friday, Sept. 15.

Artistic Director Carl Andress said, "We are proceeding with rehearsals for 'Newsies' with continued vigilance as the safety of our staff, performers, and audience is our top priority.

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