…when live music returns to Boston and virus is no more.
Though our stages remain dark, we are retaining listings of cancelled concerts as a memorial to Boston’s cultural life.
Effective immediately, if you are planning any in-person MIT event with more than 150 attendees that will take place between now and Friday, May 15, on campus or off campus, you must postpone, cancel or “virtualize” it. [Thus Kresge is closed]
Sincerely,
Rafael Reif, president
MIT
Dear Sanders Theater presenters,
Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related public health concerns, Harvard University leadership has provided guidance requesting that non-essential activity gathering large groups of people be suspended through at least April 30.
This includes all public events in Sander Theater.
We wanted to be in touch with our cultural partners right away to let them know we will not be able to proceed with scheduled events between now and April 30. All rental deposits will be refunded. If your organization has events scheduled after May 1, let’s connect again in a few weeks. If I receive word that the direction to suspend events extends beyond April 30, I will be in touch right away.
Given that we don’t know when we will be cleared to host public events we cannot accommodate rescheduling requests at this time.
Please reply so that I know you received this message. And please feel free to send along any questions. We appreciate your understanding during this difficult and confusing time.
Regards,
Ruth Polleys
Program Manager
Office for the Arts at Harvard
Vice President for Finance & Administration
Celebrity Series Updates Regarding COVID-19
COVID-19 Updates
Harvard University announced that it was closing Sanders Theatre to all outside renters, effective immediately, through at least April 30. At this time, all other Celebrity Series performances and activities will take place as scheduled.
Update on March 7, 2020 regarding performances at Sanders Theatre
Harvard University announced last night that it was closing Sanders Theatre to all outside renters, effective immediately, through at least April 30. For Celebrity Series, this decision impacts the upcoming concerts with Aoife O’Donovan, Chris Thile and Kronos Quartet. At the moment, Celebrity Series is exploring if there is any possibility of rescheduling these concerts at an alternate venue or later date and we expect to make a decision shortly. We ask that all patrons hold their tickets to these performances. We will be in touch with ticket holders within the next few days about their options. If you have not done so already, we encourage patrons to provide us with your relevant contact information here.
I noticed that the NEC announcement is rather ambiguous. Does it apply to outside events as well as NEC-produced ones? Harvard and MIT have managed to speak unequivocally.
Comment by Vance Koven — March 9, 2020 at 8:09 pm
Under “Frequently asked questions” at https://necmusic.edu/health-alert , they say “NEC concerts are public performances in any institutional concert hall. Master classes are included.” So that appears to be a “yes”…..
Comment by aardvark — March 9, 2020 at 11:59 pm
re Jordan Hall:
I have received email cancellations of a couple of events, so the closure does appear applicable to everyone.
NEC itself needs to post an unambiguous message.
Comment by perry41 — March 11, 2020 at 3:09 pm
And has the office for the Arts at Harvard decided to change the spelling of Sanders Theatre after 150 years?
Comment by Brian Bell — March 12, 2020 at 4:23 pm
It is easy to confirm that it’s been spelled both ways almost since the getgo and even within Harvard. (We prefer it -er.)
Comment by David Moran — March 12, 2020 at 7:18 pm