APPLETON, Wis. — The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, normally a hub of activity for downtown Appleton, has been closed to fans for over a year.
They lost what would have been their entire 18th season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"'The New York Tenors' was the first show to be impacted and at the time we thought, you know, it would just be postponed a couple of weeks, that’s all. We’ll be right back," said Maria Van Laanen, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center President. "Of course the story unfolded very differently."
Van Laanen is looking forward to the curtain rising once again this fall.
"I get goosebumps even just thinking about it," said Van Laanen.
The PAC already announced the return of Broadway shows to Appleton, starting with "Wicked" on Oct. 27. "Mean Girls," "Hairspray," "Hadestown," and Disney’s "Frozen" are also on the schedule. Van Laanen expects an emotional reaction from everyone involved after a year and a half of postponements and cancellations.
"I am sure personally there will be lots of tears and I can’t wait, lots of hugs, finally," said Van Laanen. "I think it will be just one of the most memorable opportunities. It’s one of those things, everybody will be able to tell you, what was their first show they attended after the pandemic. I think it will be something that lives in infamy in our memories."
When performances here and across the country came to a halt last year, it impacted livelihoods throughout the industry.
"Thousands of people who work behind the scenes to make these shows happen," said Van Laanen. "You’re talking about all of our stagehands, our lighting designers, sound designers, costumes, wardrobe, wigs, the truck drivers who get these shows from place to place. It is so far-reaching. It has been devastating thousands and thousands of people."
While the doors of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center have been closed to the public, they strived to keep the community connected through virtual offerings. Special emphasis was placed on keeping high school students engaged. Through the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program, the PAC connected students with industry experts.
"We’ve been able to continue to provide workshops with industry experts, choreographers, dancers, artists of all different techniques virtually with our students," said Van Laanen.
Fox Valley Lutheran High School is a long-time participant in the program.
"The efforts that they’re putting in to make sure these kids have those opportunities is phenomenal," said Wendy Bixby, FVL Spring Musical Director.
Bixby and her students successfully performed Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast" during the pandemic in front of in-house fans as well as those watching virtually.
"We had kids that were able to do Zooms with choreographers from shows in New York," said Bixby. "We had kids that were able to tune in and watch a Zoom on how to prepare an online audition, which became really helpful later on."
There are some challenges ahead. Financially for the PAC, it’s been a difficult year. They rely on about 70-75% of earned revenue and the rest comes from community contributions. Losing an entire season hurts. Van Laanen says the local community is generous in supporting the arts but there’s still a ways to go.
"Our business is completely shuttered for a year and a half and then it’s going to take some time to ramp back up," said Van Laanen. "We do have a plan and we have confidence that we will be able to regain our solid financial footing that we had prior to the pandemic."
Large Broadway shows coming back to Appleton in the fall will come at a big cost. For the PAC, being able to fill every seat is the goal. It’s too soon to know what health guidelines will be in place in October but they’re hopeful.
"What we’re really striving for is, how can we get the community and our venue to a place where it is safe to come together in a full capacity, shoulder to shoulder environment," said Van Laanen.
If that happens, fans should enjoy one ‘Wicked’ good time.
"Being able to go back and have that experience again is going to be so much more special," said Van Laanen. "It’s replacing something that we had felt we had lost for a period of time."