Staller Center For the Arts Has Closed for the Season

On Saturday, March 7, 2020, Kelli O'Hara and Sutton Foster joined forces for the first time in a double headline show at the Staller Center for the Arts for their 2020 Gala and, though no one knew it at the time, this would be the last show of the Staller Center season. Performing songs from their lengthy repertoires, both Tony-winning performers gave it their all to a sold-out crowd despite mounting precautions and fears surrounding COVID-19.

"I know this is a time of a little bit of nerves and wonder and mystery and anxiety...we want to give you a night away from that," O'Hara said during her performance. The show went on, but out of an abundance of caution, the Gala's reception was canceled. Little did O'Hara know, her comment about it being the last time audiences would be together, quickly became true.

Days later, on March 10, at the urging of Interim Stony Brook President, Michael Bernstein, the Staller Center announced that all March events were canceled. Bernstein's bold and forward-thinking guided Staller Center Director, Alan Inkles, in his decision to cancel the Starry Nights concert, which was scheduled that same evening. One week after that, Inkles also took the lead and stated that all events at the Staller Center through May 15 would be canceled. In the following days, other theatres and arts organizations, including the Metropolitan Opera, followed suit. In a time of considerable unease, theatre venues across the world have closed their doors to limit the spread of COVID-19.

"We were the first East Coast Arts Center that canceled shows for March last week and second in the country," Inkles said. Indeed, the Staller Center decided to close before larger venues such as Broadway, The Metropolitan Opera House, and London's West End.

Performances by the Russian National Ballet, America's Got Talent finalist Diavolo, and the 30th-anniversary show of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, among many others, are no longer coming to the Staller Center this season. "We are working with all of our artists and their managers in attempting to reschedule their shows in upcoming seasons and working together to find creative ways to minimize the financial hardships that appear imminent for these performers," said Inkles. Other canceled events include: three remaining MET Opera Live in HD screenings, the Spring Film Series, A Capella Live, Starry Nights, Jack Licitra: U are the Music!, the Emerson String Quartet, Carol Wincenc, and the Doo Wop Project. The Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery is also closed to all in-person visitors through the end of May.

The Box Office is closed to in-person visitors, but patrons are asked to call or email the box office at 631-632-ARTS[2787] or boxoffice@stallercenter.com with questions or concerns.

While Staller is offering credit or refunds for all ticketholders, generous sponsors, donors, and partners are offering their help, and many patrons have kindly donated their tickets back.

"We are certainly seeing some great humanity in the art world as everyone scrambles to help each other," Inkles said.

Stay tuned for announcements on the Staller Center's 2021-22 Season at stallercenter.com and visit stonybrookfilmfestival.com for information on this July's 25th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival.

Photo Credit: Millie Elangbam, courtesy Staller Center

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