Harlequin postpones productions until March

Harlequin Productions in Olympia is postponing further production until March because of the surge in COVID-19.

“Murder for Two” is now scheduled for March 11 to April 2. The production initially planned for that period, “Samuel Beckett’s Endgame,” has been canceled.

“We realize that producing work in the middle of a surge like this new wave would be dangerous and next to impossible,” Harlequin Productions Artistic Director Aaron Lamb said. “We have hope that this will pass quickly and we will be able to produce work on a regular basis moving forward. Our community has been too long without real live theater. We hope that we can get back to it shortly.”

Harlequin will contact subscribers and single-ticket holders. Their tickets will be moved to the corresponding new dates in March. The box office will reissue and mail new tickets by Feb. 1. If ticket holders in the first four weeks need to reschedule, contact the box office at [email protected] or by phone at 360-786-0151. Business hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 5:30 p.m.

The March run of “Murder for Two” will shorten from five to four weeks. Patrons with tickets for the fifth week of “Murder for Two” or for tickets to “Endgame” will be contacted and asked to either complete an online form, whose options will include a full refund, or contact the box office directly. Patrons are asked to respond by March 1, after which their tickets will be automatically refunded.

“Murder for Two” is a murder mystery musical comedy in which two actors play all the characters involved in a criminal investigation. Both actors, Katherine Strohmaier and Jon Lutyens, play the piano throughout.

In his director’s notes regarding the production, Corey McDaniel stated, “Being in the rehearsal room with Kathrine and Jon has been a true and unique gift. Witnessing these two very skilled actors and musicians dissect and execute the rapid-fire changes of thought, characters, physicality, and a multitude of key changes was thrilling.”

McDaniel added, “Generally speaking, what I love most about theater is our opportunity to gather as a community and reflect on what it means to be within the human experience.”

All Harlequin employees will remain on staff.

Harlequin will resume rehearsals and other production-related activities in late February.

Looking beyond March and April, Harlequin is still slated to present “Sovereignty” from May 6-28 and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” from June 24 through July 30.“Sovereignty,” centers on Sarah Ridge Polson, a young Cherokee lawyer fighting to restore her nation’s jurisdiction, while also confronting the ever-present ghosts of her grandfathers.

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is the genre-bending, fourth-wall-smashing winner of four 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival.

The nonprofit Harlequin Productions performs at the State Theater at 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia.