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Date: 2/22/2022
NORTHAMPTON – Like all performance venues, the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton will continue to operate within the roller coaster ride of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Debra J’Anthony, the executive director of Academy of Music, the venue is continuing to adjust to the ever-changing mandates provided by the state and local government. When the delta variant became a major issue back in the late summer of 2021, the theater decided to implement a mandate that requires all attendees to provide proof of vaccination, or a negative PCR test taken within the past 72 hours before entering the theatre. That rule is still implemented for ages 5 and up, while anyone under 5 or those who cannot be vaccinated yet must wear a mask and provide a negative PCR test taken within the past 72 hours.
Additionally, everyone entering the theatre must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, unless while eating or drinking, and all the staff members at the Academy are fully vaccinated. “We are constantly making decisions based on staying open and staying healthy,” said J’Anthony. “We’re doing our best to contribute to the health of our community and to keep our artists on stage.”
Since reopening on Sept. 8, 2021, the Academy of Music has had to reschedule a little over 20 shows for various reasons related to the pandemic. Many of the scheduled shows in January and February specifically have been moved to April and beyond. Despite the constant shuffling, there are still a slate of shows available for people to see within these next two months, and the schedule can be found on their website.
At the moment, there are no capacity limits for shows and performances, according to J’Anthony. The theater itself seats a little over 800 and is nearly evenly divided between the Orchestra level and the Loge and Upper Balcony. The city’s Board of Health did consider implementing a venue capacity limit in Northampton as a short-term decision, but with cases plateauing and now decreasing, the board decided that developing a best practices plan under a separate subcommittee would be more beneficial for long term health and safety, instead.
“When artists are in the dressing room, they are required to wear their masks, but once they’re on stage, they’re not required to,” said J’Anthony. Even with the added measures, J’Anthony said that the rise in omicron cases has caused a dip in ticket sales for national tours and local offerings.
“It’s a bumpy reopening this year,” said J’Anthony. “Not as smooth as I would’ve hoped, but we’re open.”
Outside of performances and tours, the Academy is also back with offering in-person youth programs such as productions, workshops and classes throughout the year. J’Anthony said that the venue was able to conduct their fall classes in 2021, which were well-attended. Their Academy Youth Production is also currently in rehearsal right now for a performance of “Oklahoma!,” and the final performance for that is set to be on March 10 and 11. J’Anthony is hopeful that cases will subside by then so they can put on a safe show. All the students in this performance have been vaccinated.
The venue will also offer spring classes in April and their summer Musical Theatre Workshops. The first act for the latter is set to begin for ages 5 to 7 on June 27. The rest of that schedule can also be found on their website. The classes are conducted at Pine Box Studios in Florence.
Founded by Northampton native and philanthropist H.R. Lyman, the Academy of Music first opened in 1891, and became the first municipally owned theater in the nation one year later. The theater quickly became a well-known venue, with acts like Harry Houdini and film star Mae West performing at the venue in the early 20th century.
With the introduction of film in the 1930s, the Academy became a hub for silent cinema. By the 1970s, the theatre was regularly screening first-run films. However, the venue had to reinvent their business model once the inception of the multiplex occurred in the 1980s. It is now a venue for live theater, dance, film, music and arts education.
J’Anthony began her tenure at the Academy of Music 15 years ago after serving as the executive director of the Shea Community Theater in Turners Falls for 16 years. During her tenure there, she was awarded the Community Theater Association Back Stage Award and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate Official Citation. She also has performed professionally as a musician throughout North America and Europe.
Since becoming executive director, J’Anthony has developed the Academy into a destination for live programming and performance for people of all ages. And though the venue has now been open for 130 years, J’Anthony said they have not thought of a plan for celebration quite yet due to COVID-19, but there is a possibility that the staff could plan something for the fall and/or give a shoutout to the milestone when their next round of concerts begin in May.
When asked how it feels to see the Academy reach that milestone, J’Anthony said that she felt “pretty good” about the way in which the venue has been a mecca for spotlighting local and national creatives.
“The Academy of Music has had many iterations, and I think that it’s a beloved building and a place for gathering and sharing in performance arts,” said J’Anthony. “I think it’s impressive to maintain a venue of this caliber in a community this small.”
To learn more about the upcoming schedule and important health and safety guidelines, visit https://www.aomtheatre.com/.