Some long intermissions for area theaters, due to the coronavirus pandemic, have been gradually coming to an end. Venice Theatre is the latest to plan to reopen its doors, after first closing in the spring of 2020, presenting a few small-scale cabaret shows last summer, and then reclosing in November due to a spike in cases. Beginning Friday, March 26, the theater will present a new series of live shows in its Jervey Theatre.

Theater management stresses that VT will continue to follow the recommendation of its Covid-19 task force, made up of medical and community advisors. As producing executive director Murray Chase says, “Things will continue to be different for a while. Shows will still feature smaller casts, and all performances will take place in our Mainstage Jervey Theatre, with a distanced seating plan.”

The first new show on tap will be an original cabaret piece from Michelle Kasanofsky, the theater’s top music director since 2004. She will present 2020: The Year That Almost Was at 7:30 p.m. March 26 and 27, joined by her son, Mikal Mancini, on piano and bass, and Joel Broome on drums.

Several more shows will follow that opener. Dwight Icenhour--Up Close and Personal pays tribute to Elvis Presley, April 5-7. Back Home Again, A Tribute to John Denver starring Tom Becker, is set for April 10-12. The contemporary musical john & jen, about a brother and sister, will star real-life siblings Casey and Kiley Berkery, April 17-25. And returning audience favorite Folk Legacy Trio rounds out the spring schedule with concerts May 7-10.

Face coverings will be required of all audience members and staff, quick temperature checks will be conducted as patrons enter, the bar will be closed at first (reopening in stages) and there will be no intermissions.

Seats for the spring shows go on sale, Monday, March 8, at venicetheatre.org.