Cabot Theater Gets Creative As Venues Struggle Through Pandemic

BEVERLY, MA – Although Casey Soward comes across as a pretty upbeat and positive guy no matter the circumstance, this was news that briefly even made the Cabot Street Cinema Theater executive director feel briefly defeated.

The historic theater, which opened in 1920, had already been closed for nearly five months due to the coronavirus health crisis, but Soward and his staff made plans to give something back to artists and the North Shore community with an outdoor concert series called "The Porch Sessions" at nearby Hale Farm.

He had the nonprofit food vendor Root North Shore, Inc. lined up. He had some big-name acts committed for a quaint, intimate venue. He thought he had a way to extend a lifeline to some less-famous musicians that really needed the income after months of wondering when their next live gig would come.

He was feeling optimistic about some things amid a very difficult time for most people.

Then on Aug. 7, Soward watched as Gov. Charlie Baker lowered the capacity for outdoor events to 50 in the state, and indoor events to 25, amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

"When I heard the announcement I almost canceled the whole series," Soward told Patch. "I didn't think it could possibly work financially.

"But then we sharpened our pencils, and talked again to our artists and our vendors, and everything fell into place. The Porch Sessions have been a way help people reconnect and take a break with all of the craziness out there."

Soward has sadly watched as many others in the business of cinema and live music have not been so fortunate. As a nonprofit organization with a supportive membership, the Cabot has been able to navigate the closure of the movie theater, and survive on the minimal money it makes from the music series.

Many other venues were simply forced to shutter their doors with little hope of ever reopening.

"A lot of our colleagues in the industry are small, independent shops," Soward said. "These people are really feeling the (coronavirus restrictions) the worst. Without any government help soon a lot of these places are going to have to close. You are already seeing it. It's heartbreaking."

According to the National Independent Venue Association, of which the Cabot is a member, live music venues will lose up to $8.9 billion in revenue nationwide if current restrictions remain in effect through the end of the year.

When asked if the shutdown were to last another six months in July, with no meaningful government assistance, the venue association estimated 90 percent of its members would be forced to fold forever.

A "Save Our Stages" bill introduced to Congress in July with bipartisan support — Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) have signed on as co-sponsors — has made little progress.

"Our members expected resolution in July and have held out past their breaking points borrowing and scraping together anything they could until Congress makes a decision, but there is no further to go," NIVA President Danya Frank said in a statement this week. "Businesses will be closed, and homes will be lost, if Congress doesn't take immediate action. We need action now."

Thunder Road in Somerville and Great Scott in Allston are among the Boston-area venues that have closed in recent months — though Great Scott owners are exploring a move to another Brighton location — while musicians scramble to book outdoor venues before the weather gets too cold to perform.

"The regulations now are that are is no singing allowed inside in Massachusetts," Soward noted. "So they have been totally, totally gracious for the opportunities they've had. In particular, the artists we've worked with, they've agreed to keep their fees reasonable for a 40-person audience.

"We are all trying to help each other out through this."

Upcoming Porch Sessions include Livinston Taylor this weekend with Soward planning more shows for as long as the weather will allow.

"We're pretty committed to bring arts and entertainment to the people of the North Shore as much as we can at this time," he said.

Yet, the cinema remains closed, and will be for the foreseeable future. While some chains and smaller venues have tried to open at 25 percent capacity, Soward doesn't see how that is sustainable.

"For us it's not feasible," said Soward, who has arranged for some "virtual" showings such as the run of "Vinyl Nation" that wrapped up last week. "We'll be shut down in the main theater at least until December. Then if they loosen up capacity maybe we'll open for movies.

"But we are a long way away from full capacity where we could have concerts in the theater again."

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