Though the Kent Spotlight Series has had to cancel or reschedule half a dozen performances due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the creative minds in charge have been hard at work to bring performances to the Kent area.
The final two performances of the 2019-2020 season and the first 2021 performance were canceled, while three performances scheduled for this fall have been pushed back to fall of 2021.
“If we can’t present the concerts in person,” said Ronda Billerbeck, cultural programs manager of the Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services, “we will have options to webcast or reschedule.”
Canceled at the end of the 2019-2020 season were “We Shall Overcome,” a gospel performance, and the Catapult dance group’s performance of “Dancing Shadows.”
Billerbeck declined to say which acts might be rescheduled.
The Spotlight Series still hopes to present one more performance for 2020, their annual Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert.
The Spotlight Series, which usually puts on performances at the Kent-Meridian High School Performing Arts Center and Kentwood High School Performing Arts Center, may be finding a new stage soon.
“We are hoping to make this popular holiday tradition happen in some format, most likely as a webcast,” Billerbeck said. “There are a lot of factors to consider, including which platform to utilize, making sure we have the proper technology, and additional music licensing issues.”
The Spotlight Series intends to announce the Yuletide concert as well as the season schedule for 2021 closer to the end of this year.
Community outreach classes associated with performances have also been rescheduled for fall of 2021.
The rescheduled outreach includes “a tap dance class, a guitar demonstration, and a mariachi assembly and workshops,” said Billerbeck.
Rescheduling and canceling performances and classes has netted the Spotlight Series a loss of about $40,000 in ticket revenue. About $10,000 in sponsorship and grants has also been lost.
“But our expenses are down by a comparable amount, so that evens out overall,” said Billerbeck, “Fortunately, most of our grant funders are currently working with us to shift the grants toward general operating support, so we will be able to recoup some of that revenue.”
