WASHINGTON THERE.
>> AS THE CHICAGO ARTS COMMUNITY
SAYS GOOD-BYE TO SHOWS FOR THE
SPRING SEASON, MANY ARE LEFT
WONDERING WHEN THE NEXT SHOW
ALSO RESUME.
OUR ANGEL IDOWU VISITED WITH A
FEW OF THE COMPANIES LATE LAST
WEEK BEFORE THE STATE'S FULL
STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WAS ISSUED TO
GET A BETTER IDEA WHAT THE NEXT
STEPS ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE
UNCERTAINTY.
[♪♪♪]
>> AFTER BEING FORCED TO CLOSE
THEIR PRODUCTION, THE HEALING,
ONE WEEK AFTER IT OPENED, JACKIE
TAYLOR WITH THE BLACKEN SEMBLE
THEATRE SAYS WORKING FROM HOME
IS NOT AN OPTION.
>> I STILL HAVE BILLS.
I STILL HAVE MORTGAGES.
I STILL HAVE AN OPERATION THAT I
HAVE TO KEEP UP.
I JUST CAN'T LET IT --
I CAN'T CLOSE IT UP AND SAY
WE'RE CAMPING FOR SIX MONTHS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE
DONE DAILY.
I HAVE TO HAVE SECURITY.
I MEAN WE HAVE A 55,000
SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY.
BLACKEN SEMBLE CULTURAL CENTER.
>> WITH 50% OF THE BUDGET GONE
TAYLOR IS RELYING ON FUNDING.
>> YOU ARE DEPENDENT ON TICKET
SALES AND DEPENDENT ON FUNDING.
WHEN YOUR TICKET SALES ARE
NONEXISTENT THEN YOU HAVE TO
INCREASE YOUR FUNDRAISING.
>> DEB CLAPP WITH THE LEAGUE OF
CHICAGO THEATERS AGREES AND SAYS
THE PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY
PLAYS A BIGGER ROLE THAN PEOPLE
REALIZE.
>> IF YOU REMEMBER AFTER 9/11,
PEOPLE FLOCKED TO THE PERFORMING
ARTS BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THAT
SOLIS THAT COMES IN BEING
TOGETHER WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE
AND EXPERIENCING SOMETHING
BEAUTIFUL ALTOGETHER.
>> DOWNTOWN AT THE JOFFREY
BALLET THE DANCE COMPANY WAS
FORCED TO CLOSE BUT NOT BEFORE
THEY ENDED THEIR RUN OF THE
TIMES ARE RACING.
AND WHILE THEY HOPE THEY ARE
ABLE TO MOVE THE POSTPONED SHOW
TO THE END OF THE YEAR ONE OF
THE MORE IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES IS
HELPING DANCERS STAY IN SHAPE.
>> WE HAVE BEEN GIVING OUT LOTS
OF EXERCISE BALLS AND BANDS AND
YOU KNOW FOR THEM TO KEEP
THEMSELVES IN SHAPE.
AND THE THING FOR ANY ATHLETE IS
IF YOU START TO LOSE TWO WEEKS
OF EXERCISE LIKE FULL ON
EXERCISE IT TAKES TWICE THAT
LONG TO GET BACK.
YOUR BODY JUST IS NOT AT A PEAK
LEVEL.
THEY ARE REHEARSING SIX HOURS A
DAY.
AND TRAINING AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF
BEFORE THAT.
>> AT THE LYRIC OPERA THEY WERE
FORCED TO POSTPONE THE RING
CYCLE WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO
PREMIER IN APRIL.
A PRODUCTION NEARLY 10 YEARS IN
THE MAKING, THE OPERA COMPANY
EXPECTED THE SHOW TO PUT UP BIG
NUMBERS.
>> WE'RE ESTIMATING THE DIRECT
LOSSES BEING BETWEEN 15-20
MILLION.
AND GIVEN HOW WE CANNOT PREDICT
EVEN FROM DAY-TO-DAY WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S LIKELY, I
THINK, THAT THERE WILL BE MORE
CANCELLATIONS AND THEREFORE MORE
LOSSES AND MORE INEVITABLE
CUTBACKS.
>> DESPITE THE LOSS, THE LYRIC
REMAINS HOPEFUL THAT THE
UNPREDICTED SEASON WILL PASS.
>> CHICAGO WILL GET THROUGH
THIS.
THE ARTS WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
LYRIC WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
WE WILL BE BACK STRONGER AND
BETTER THAN EVER.
>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M
ANGEL IDOWU.
>> AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT
ANGEL HAD WAS LATE LAST WEEK
BEFORE THE STATE ISSUED THE