The lack-of-shell shock is almost over for Hollywood Bowl fans. Only a couple of days ago, after a year of locked doors due to the pandemic, the venue announced reopening plans. Starting in July, the open-air space will welcome 14 weeks of summer concerts. A small catch - necessary given the current circumstances - is the mandatory safety protocols, as well as limited capacity.
Wikipedia | The glorious Hollywood Bowl is back in business!
Pandemic Worries and Woes
February 26th, 2020 marked the Hollywood Bowl’s first pandemic-related cancellation. The LA Philharmonic cut its season short 5 weeks later on the 9th of April. Due to pandemic struggles and financial strain, the venue was forced to put off all other performances for the remainder of the season. For some time, fans worried that the Hollywood Bowl wouldn’t make it to its 100th birthday, which is next year.
Series Seating | The venue was shut for a whole year
But luckily, all that is in the past now.
The Early Plan
Starting off, the audience at the Hollywood Bowl will be limited to 4,000 – 17,500 people. Later on, depending on how smoothly events run, crowd size will be increased. In a month additionally, ticketing details, dates, and talent lineup will also be revealed.
In their manner of thanking the frontline warriors of the pandemic, healthcare professionals, first responders, and essential workers will get to attend four concerts for free. The first three, courtesy of a partnership with Kaiser Permanente, will feature performances from LA Philharmonics on the 15th of May and the Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and the orchestra on the 22nd of May. Both will be playing scores from Beethoven to Marquez. The artist for the third performance, scheduled for the 26th of June, is yet to be announced. On the 12th of June, the Thundercat and Flying Lotus will perform the fourth free concert. This will be the R&B group’s first live performance since they won their Grammy Award at the start of the year.
Safety – the Topmost Priority
For the venue management, nothing comes before safety – whether it be of the artists, audiences, or staff. While they will continue to aim at providing the topnotch Bowl experience, guests must show confidence in the procedures and policies designed to keep them safe.
The Hollywood Bowl | The show must go on! But, not without safety measures
As a final word, the management acknowledged the excitement such news will be met with, but mentions the difficulty and sensitivity of such a situation. There's still complete uncertainty as to what the pandemic and the season will permit this year. As such, plans will require extensive working and reworking to be successful. Hence, eager fans are requested to be patient and cooperative during this complicated time.
