As the new year begins, Twin Cities arts organizations are having to alter plans, for the same reason their schedules shifted at the end of 2021: the COVID-19 pandemic and, specifically, the omicron variant.
If you have tickets to just about anything this weekend, it's a good idea to double-check to make sure the event is happening and learn about refunds and exchanges. Here are some schedule changes:
The Guthrie Theater has canceled the first three preview performances of "A Raisin in the Sun" and plans to begin previews Jan. 12 instead. Opening night is scheduled for Jan. 14.
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has canceled rehearsals and performances through Sunday. SPCO is "exploring the possibility" of rescheduling the four concerts by flutist Alicia McQuerrey while it implements a new testing protocol for its musicians and staff.
Bloomington's Artistry canceled its production of "Into the Woods," which was scheduled to open Jan. 22. Taking what the theater describes as a "brief intermission," performances will resume with "Memphis," which opens in April.
Walker Art Center has postponed "KLII," Kaneza Schaal's show that was to launch its annual Out There series Jan. 12.
"We made the call with Kaneza just as people were supposed to be getting on airplanes," said Philip Bither, Walker senior curator of performing arts. "We commissioned this piece and we're committed to having it when it's safer to do so for our artists and audiences."
Wordplay, the writers festival begun by the Loft Literary Center in 2019 and then forced online for the past two years by the pandemic, announced Wednesday that it will go on hiatus for 2022.