Things may inch back to “normal” this summer.
But it won’t be normal on the banks of the Saugatuck River.
The Levitt Pavilion has canceled the entire 2020 season. The reason, of course, is the coronavirus.
One view of the Levitt Pavilion … (Photo/Claire Bangser)
The Levitt board says:
This decision is first and foremost based on our commitment to your safety, and the safety of our artists and audiences, staff and stakeholders, and the community at large.
2020 would have marked our 47th summer season under the stars. This will be the first time in our history that we will not produce a season. Sharing this news is difficult — but we know it is the only responsible thing to do.
As a not-for-profit organization, the Levitt Pavilion produces one of the largest and longest-running free outdoor festivals in the nation. We are committed to being able to ensure our future ability to deliver on our mission: To provide abundant free access to the arts, to compensate and support artists at every stage of their careers, and to preserve and cultivate an outdoor destination where people of all ages can come together safely to enjoy the arts, nature – and each other.
… and another … (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
The Levitt Pavilion is also an anchor organization for a vibrant downtown Westport. We will continue to work to be in a position to light up Westport once more, when it is safe to do so, in our unique way, and to continue to attract thousands upon thousands of people to come back to Westport and support our local businesses, restaurants and our esteemed cultural institutions.
We are working to ensure we can still be here to deliver on our mission in the future, to help serve and rebuild our community, and to help mitigate the effects this cancellation, alongside countless others, has on the artists and team that make our season and special events possible.
To support these outcomes and maintain our very lean operations, we will continue to fundraise. So that we can remain functional, we ask that if you’re able, to please consider making a tax-deductible donation.
… and the view from the stage. (Photo/Dan Woog)
This is very unfortunate news. However, on the somewhat brighter side, the Town of Westport now has an entire year to institute the common sense noise mitigation recommendations which the Levitt’s own acoustic experts presented (in writing) to the administration several years ago in response to years of chronic complaints from impacted families. Hopefully, the Selectman’s Levitt Sub-Committee (which has yet to meet since it was first re-established last Fall) will soon convene to establish proper control mechanisms over this important town-owned facility – one that is supported, in part, by taxpayer money. Ideally, for the sake of enhanced accountability, the Committee should be expanded to include elected persons – perhaps from the RTM. Presently, it is made up non-elected appointees.
I was thinking the same thing as Morley. I personally look forward to having a peaceful summer without the concert noise blaring across town towards my house.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I read this. I am a huge music lover but as a noise impacted family, I really pray that the board meets and agrees to the proposed changes. It is hard to live with constant loud noise plus have to call a number that only sometimes works and ask them to turn it down (which works only sometimes ) as per the Board instructions.
Wow– I thought I was the only one who didn’t love hearing the entire show each night in my backyard. I could hear it when the old structure was there but with the new, improved version, now I can hear almost every word. Hope that there is some significant noise mitigation done!