By now we are all trying to make sense of how to manage our lives during these rapidly changing times as a result of COVID-19. While the BCCDC is advising social distancing and a halt on all events with over 250 people as a means to interrupt the spread of the virus, it is causing great upheaval for the city’s Arts, and Events organizations. UPDATED: Health Officials have now declared all events over 50 people must be cancelled, resulting in basically all current productions to cease.
Most of the events are offering refunds, rebooking or transfer of tickets for those that are still taking place.
In an attempt to help you find out what’s on, cancelled or postponed here’s a list of some of the announced changes (in alphabetical order, and by no means definitive, as changes keep happening):
Arts Club Theatre – The Wedding Party scheduled to run until March 22 at the BMO Theatre Centre is now cancelled, carried away on the crest of a wave, due to open soon at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre has been rescheduled until August 2020, and all remaining tour stops for Kims Convenience have been cancelled.
BC Place – all events at BC Place, including Playdome and Whitecaps FC, are cancelled up to at least April 11
BMO Vancouver Marathon – Marathon and all associated distances schedule for May 3 have been cancelled.
Carousel Theatre for Young People – remaining performances of The House at Pooh Corner, scheduled to close March 29, have been cancelled at Waterfront Theatre.
Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC – due to the venue size, all public events in the Chan Shun Concert Hall have been cancelled up to April 5
Chor Leoni – all performances have been cancelled up to the end of April, including; Cadillac Cathedral, M’ANAM & Chor Leoni, and the VanMan Choral Summit.
The Cultch – productions are proceeding as scheduled cancelled due to capacity of venues; Historic Theatre – 192 capacity, Culture Lab – 72, and York Theatre capacity is reduced to 200 to allow extra space between guests.
DanceHouse – upcoming performances of Rubberband (Montreal) scheduled March 20-21, and Compañía Rocío Molina (Spain) scheduled April 1 – 5 have been cancelled.
Early Music Vancouver – the remainder of the EMV 50th Anniversary Season has been cancelled, the Vancouver Bach Festival is still scheduled to take place in the Summer.
Firehall Arts Centre – productions are proceeding as scheduled cancelled as the venue only has a capacity of 134 plus the box office is limiting seating to 70% occupancy as an added safeguard to allow more space between guests.
Gateway Theatre – From Alaska coproduced by Ruby Slippers Theatre, scheduled for April 16-25, has been cancelled, Gateway Academy classes continue for spring break.
Midtwenties Theatre Society – unfortunately, Midtwenties Theatre Society takes its planned indefinite hiatus early as Light Rapid Transit, scheduled to run March 18 – 29 has been cancelled.
Pacific Theatre – remaining performances of Best of Enemies, scheduled to close March 21, have been cancelled.
PNE: Events scheduled for PNE sites, including Monster Jam, Seasons Music Festival-Above & Beyond, have been cancelled or postponed.
Presentation House Theatre – due to the capacity of the theatre being just 150 all shows are planned to proceed as scheduled.
Rogers Arena – events at Rogers Arena, including Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Warriors games, Celine Dion Concert, are postponed into April.
Shadbolt Centre Burnaby – Sound Bites and Jazz Jam scheduled for March 17, Between Breaths scheduled for March 25 – 28, have been cancelled. Marion Cowings performance scheduled March 19 has been postponed to a future date.
Sonic Boom Music Festival – all Festival events originally schedule March 19 – 22 have been postponed.
Vaisakhi Parade: both the Vancouver Vaisakhi (April 18) and Surrey Vaisakhi (April 25) Parades are cancelled for 2020.
Vancouver Civic Theatres – most performances and events at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Orpheum, Vancouver Playhouse are cancelled or postponed; including performances by Shen Yuen, VSO, Vancouver Recital Society and DanceHouse
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – Cherry Jam April 2 – 3, The Big Picnic at Van Dusen Garden April 11 and Sakura Days Japan Fair April 18 – 19 have been cancelled.
Vancouver International Auto Show – the 100th anniversary auto industry showcase is postponed pending a suitable date.
Vancouver Opera – upcoming performances of Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera scheduled April 23, 29, 30 and the Vancouver Opera Festival schedule April 23 – May 9 have been cancelled, school tours of Flight of the Hummingbird have been postponed.
Vancouver Sun Run – North America’s largest 10k scheduled for April 19, has been cancelled.
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – due to large audience size all VSO performances have been cancelled until at least April 5th.
Vancouver TheatreSport – due to the capacity of the Improv Centre being under 200 all Vancouver TheatreSport shows are planned to proceed as scheduled.