Crystal’s Theatre Elision Trying to Hang On Until Performances Can Resume
Theatre Elision in Crystal was only five days away from its first production when COVID-19 restrictions forced the closing of the venue. Owners adapted by renting out space, but now the rentals are dwindling too. They hope to open in more of a normal capacity in summer or fall.
Manager Christine Wade says actors have rehearsed for future plays, but under COVID-19 rules, the theater can only operate at 25 percent capacity.
“We can have 10-15 -20 people in here, in our main space, and that’s including actors, that’s not including the audience, everybody in the building,” explained Wade.
Theatre Elision has been temporarily closed since March 2020 because of pandemic
The owners adapted to adversity by renting out their space to other organizations like the Brooklyn Park Lions Drum Corps. However, now the requests for rentals are dwindling.
“It’s so sparse, it used to be every single day, all the time, and now it’s once a week, once a month. For now, the playhouse is cutting back on lights, heat, and other utilities,” said Wade. “It’s going to happen. I just take it one day at a time and I know everything passes and changes. So it’s going to happen.”
Theatre Elision hopes to get back to regular business in the summer or fall, but it’s at the mercy of union guidelines.
