Statement from Becky Hancock, executive director of the Tennessee Theatre

 

Out of an abundance of caution given the current public health situation, the Tennessee Theatre has decided to close, effective March 14. This temporary closure is scheduled to remain in place through Monday, April 6. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

The situation surrounding coronavirus/COVID-19 is evolving rapidly on a national, regional, and local scale. Tennessee Theatre management and leadership have maintained constant contact with local government officials to stay abreast of the latest news and decisions to keep our community safe. We have adhered to all of their recommendations. While at this time there has been no mandate to close venues in the Knoxville area, the Tennessee Theatre is taking this precaution for the health and safety of our community and visitors.

 

As the situation continues to evolve in the coming weeks, we will reassess and make further decisions on remaining closed or preparing to re-open. We plan to make our next public announcement about this no later than Monday, March 30.

 

During this closure, the Clinch Avenue box office will be closed, and our phones will not be regularly staffed. Our website and social media channels will be updated frequently to communicate any additional news. If during the closure you want to purchase tickets for a future event, you may do so from our website at www.tennesseetheatre.com.

 

This closure unfortunately means that some of our events have been fully canceled. For all canceled events, all customers who purchased tickets via authorized sellers (Ticketmaster and the Tennessee Theatre box office) will be issued a full refund, including all service fees. These refunds will be processed automatically as soon as possible. There is no further action needed from the ticketholder.

 

We are making every effort to reschedule affected shows. For postponed events, we ask patrons to please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled performance date. If you cannot attend the rescheduled date once announced, you will be able to contact the box office for a full refund. To learn whether an event is postponed or fully canceled, and for more information about refunds, please visit www.tennesseetheatre.com/visit/covid19.

 

As a nonprofit arts organization, closing our doors to the public means a significant loss of revenue. While our top priority is keeping our patrons, visiting artists, and staff safe and secure, funds from tickets, concessions sales, and rental fees are the main source of income and contribute significantly to our financial stability. This closure greatly affects our ability to preserve this beautiful historic theater and to share it with everyone in the community. We appreciate the support that so many friends and patrons give to the Tennessee Theatre. If anyone would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help offset the costs already incurred for these canceled events and the lost revenue during the theater’s closure, please do so here.

 

Thank you for your patience and understanding at this time. We love making memories with you at the Official State Theatre of Tennessee and look forward to seeing you again soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to stay safe and take care of your loved ones. Thank you for loving the Tennessee Theatre.