Coronavirus halts Modesto region entertainment. Some remaining open shut by new order
Venues and groups that had planned entertainment and related events in the region have canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Those places that had planned to stay open as of Thursday joined the closures after Gov. Newsom’s Thursday evening order for people to stay at home.
The larger venues in the region such as the Gallo Center for the Arts and State Theatre in Modesto and the Turlock Community Theatre canceled or postponed all March shows.
The Gallo Center also is looking beyond March, according to Director of Marketing Doug Hosner.
“Yamato (The Drummers of Japan) in April is rescheduling, but we don’t have a confirmed new date yet,” Hosner said in an email. “Everything else is just day-to-day at this point.”
Mistlin Gallery in downtown Modesto has closed its doors, according to a press release.
At the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, the galleries had planned Thursday to remain open and maintain regular hours. But, gallery Director Lisa McDermott confirmed Friday morning they are now closed.
Smaller venues also react
Sierra Repertory Theatre in Sonora canceled remaining performances of its production of “Camelot” as well as its upcoming “The Church Basement Ladies: The Last (Potluck) Supper,” which was to have opened March 27, Jerry Lee, associate artistic director and marketing director, said.
Prospect Theater Project has canceled its performances of “The Effect,” according to an email from Laura Dickinson-Turner, who provides press releases for the company. “We are researching a live-streaming option — if that happens, we will update ticketholders with further details,” she said.
Opera Modesto pushed its production of “Magic Flute” to June 21, according to a press release from the company.
According to the website for West Side Theatre in Newman, it’s either postponed or canceled planned March shows.
All programs at Modesto Junior College have been canceled, including its Modesto Area Partners in Science program planned for March 27, which would have been a talk on infectious diseases.
Those that planned smaller events also have canceled, from the Downtown Modesto Series Prometheus Trio and Friends concert to the Yokuts Sierra Club’s scheduled March 20 program to a pair of crab feed fundraisers.
Central West Ballet’s planned “Romeo and Juliet” fundraiser on March 28 also has been postponed. “Very tough times for all Modesto Arts organizations,” Ballet Mistress Leslie Ann Larson said in an email.
Galaxy Theater had planned to stay open
The area’s cineplexes also responded to the outbreak.
Most Galaxy Theaters, with a venue in Riverbank, had remained open Thursday, but after the order Thursday evening from Gov. Newsom, the website on Friday said the theater is now closed.
Regal Cinemas, with theaters in Modesto and Turlock has closed across the country until further notice, according to its website.
Brenden Theaters also has closed, its website said.
Also closed is Ten Pin Fun Center in Turlock, according to its website. Ten Pin is a large family entertainment venue with bowling, arcade games, laser tag and more.
As of early Thursday afternoon Yosemite Lanes was still open for bowling, but on Friday its website said it had closed.
McHenry Bowl also remained open Thursday, but a call Friday confirmed they, too, had shut down.
Also closed is Ten Pin Fun Center in Turlock, according to its website. Ten Pin is a large family entertainment venue with bowling, arcade games, laser tag and more.
Modesto’s Laser Quest has shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to its website.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 12:49 PM.
