‘Pretty Woman,’ ‘Nutcracker,’ ‘Teatro ZinZanni,’ other shows cancel performances due to COVID outbreaks in casts

COVID-19 is once again shutting down a few Chicago theaters. Temporarily.

Due to COVID breakthrough cases among the cast of “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” Broadway in Chicago on Friday announced that all remaining performances of the musical at the CIBC Theatre are canceled. The affected performances were scheduled through Sunday.

Ticketholders will receive a full refund by Jan. 17, 2022. For more information, e-mail customerservice@broadwayinchicago.com. Performances of “Disney’s Frozen” at the Cadillac Palace Theatre and “The Play That Goes Wrong” at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place as of this writing are not affected.

The Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Friday announced the cancellation of performances through Sunday of its current production of “Cinderella” due to COVID cases among the cast and crew. In a statement, a spokesperson said that additional performances have been added to the show’s run to accommodate patrons’ rescheduling. Ticketholders are asked to contact the theater box office at (630) 896-6666. Refunds are available upon request.

The Joffrey Ballet canceled Dec 17-18 performances of “The Nutcracker” at the Lyric Opera House due to one confirmed case of COVID in the dance troupe. The affected performances are 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. As of this writing, the Sunday performances are still scheduled to take place. Refunds and/or exhanges are available by calling at (312) 386-8905 or emailing patronservices@joffrey.org.

Teatro ZinZanni, the dinner theatre/cirque extravaganza at the Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop, announced on its website that it was temporarily closing due to a “small number of breakthrough [COVID] cases” among its cast and crew. Performances are scheduled to resume Dec. 26 to allow for the theater to be deep cleaned and sanitized, the announcement noted.

The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire posted a note on its website announcing the cancellation of performances through Dec. 26 of the musical “Kiss Me Kate.” Performances are scheduled to resume Dec. 29, the announcement states. Ticketholders are asked to contact the theater box office at (847) 634-0200.

Timothy M. Schmidt

“Love, Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody” at the Apollo Theatre will be be “taking a one week hiatus due to the increasing challenges from the pandemic,” the website for the production announced in a statement on Saturday. Performances are set to resume Dec. 26. “The health and safety of our cast, crew, and guests continue to be our priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” the online statement read, in part. Ticketholders can contact point of purchase regarding rescheduling or refunds. The hiatus also affect’s the show’s New York production.

Chicago-area theaters have been operating under enhanced COVID safety protocols, many of them mandated by Actors’ Equity (the union representing actors and stage managers) and other industry unions, where applicable. The Paramount Theatre, for example, requires proof of full vaccination and mandatory masks for all audience members at all performances. Broadway in Chicago, which operates the CIBC Theatre similarly requires proof of vax and mandatory masks, in addition to various other COVID safety protocols, which can be found on its website.

In New York, COVID cases among the casts and/or crews of several Broadway shows have likewise forced the cancellation of various performances this weekend. Some of the shows affected include “Hamilton,” “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Moulin Rouge.”

“The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” production at Radio City Music Hall announced late Friday that the show was canceling the remainder of its 2021 season performances due to COVID cases among the company.