By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
From set design to location, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s fall offerings are going to look at little different this year.
Like many others, the Civic Theatre staff has had to be a little more creative to overcome the COVID-19 challenges of social distancing and masks. The company’s answer: drive-in theater.
Yes, you heard correctly, the company is set to present the perfect pairings of “Dracula” in October and “A Christmas Carol” in late November/early December in an old radio-style format in the parking lot of the DeltaPlex, 2500 Turner Ave. NW.
“The one thing COVID has taught us is that preplanning is the road to disaster,” said Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Executive Director Bruce Tinker. It’s hard for any theater company in the West Michigan area to do much preplanning since when the facilities will reopen remains an uncertain variable.
With that in mind, Civic Theater staff started looking at what other theater companies across the nation were doing along with brainstorming their own ideas. Over the summer, the company had a successful outdoor concert series where, for a fee performers, came to a home for a concert. The series sold out within hours of being announced.
Looking to offering something to a wider audience, the staff learned of The Des Moines Playhouse live theater drive-in project and began looking at how the team could adapted it to the Grand Rapids area. The first challenge was finding a space.
“Des Moines has a large parking lot to host the drive-thru event,” Tinker said. Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s downtown location has no parking lot. The location challenge was met when the management at the DeltaPlex offered its parking lot.
A radio-style format was decided on since it requires little or no sets or costumes. The format is reminiscent of the golden age of radio, which was the 1930s, where actors would read from a script using mostly their voices to relay the story. While costumes are not required, actors would wear items that would help them get into character such as a cape for Dracula or carry a cane for Scrooge.
In Civic’s upcoming production of “Dracula,” set for Oct. 23 -25 and Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, there are plans to project scenes on the side of the DeltaPlex to help establish the setting. Actors will have minimal costumes but the story will largely be told through their voices, Tinker said. The audio will be broadcasted via FM with the audience listening in through their car radios. Adding to the night of fun, DeltaPlex will have vendors on hand selling theater food items, Tinker said.
Only a 100 cars will be allowed per showing. (There are two shows per night at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.). Considering one vehicle can hold up to five people, there is a possible 500 people who could be in attendance. The Civic Theatre usually has a 500 to 600 seating average and can hold up to 740.
And no worries about a small car getting stuck behind a large truck. The Civic team went out to the DeltaPlex parking lot and tested out where cars should be parked so everyone could see the production. This means all tickets will be sold as general admission with vehicles being directed on where to park based on size.
Ticket sales for “Dracula” opened on Sept. 4 with sales moving, Tinker said, adding they have sold tickets to every perform so far. Tickets are $100 per vehicle. For more information or tickets, visit grct.org.
