> Glimmerglass COVID-19 Quick Facts + FAQs

Glimmerglass COVID-19 Quick Facts + FAQs

  • The Glimmerglass Festival will not host any live performances in summer 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Glimmerglass Festival Board of Trustees voted to cancel any live performances at the theater in Cooperstown during summer 2020 for the health and safety of the company and the community.
  • New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s current phased plan to re-open the state does not permit attractions that draw a large number of visitors from outside the local area.
  • The Festival will focus its efforts on its education programs and will take its Town Hall series virtual, combining story and song around discussions of current social issues.
  • The virtual Town Hall series will begin with A Live Conversation with Artistic & General Director Francesca Zambello and Music Director Joseph Colaneri. More information will be announced in the coming weeks.
  • Ticket buyers to the 2020 Festival can donate the value of their tickets back to the company, which will be used toward the Festival’s ongoing education initiatives and supporting 2020 company members, or receive a refund for the value of their tickets. The Glimmerglass Festival Board of Trustees, joined by Artistic & General Director Francesca Zambello and Faith Gay, have generously made a commitment to match the value of all tickets donated up to $500,000, making donations twice as valuable and helping to ensure the Festival’s future during this exceptional time.
  • The 2021 season will be announced in the fall. To receive announcements regarding the 2021 season and more, make sure you are signed up for our e-newsletter.

For the full news release, click here.

For Artistic & General Director Francesca Zambello’s letter, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the next tab.

Hope. To put it simply, we were hopeful and wanted to be able to support not only the company members set to join us in Cooperstown this summer, but our local community as well.

According to guidance from New York State on Governor Cuomo’s executive order 202: “Pursuant to Executive Order 202.10, all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reasons (e.g. worship services, parties, celebrations, or other social events) are canceled or postponed.”

We hope you will consider donating the value of your ticket(s), or a portion of it, to help sustain us as
we look toward the future. You will receive a statement for tax purposes along with our deepest
gratitude and the donor benefits associated with the level of your contribution. You can also request a refund or a partial refund, which will be returned via your original method of payment.

The Glimmerglass Festival Board of Trustees, joined by Artistic & General Director Francesca Zambello
and Faith Gay, have generously made a commitment to match the value of all tickets donated up to $500,000, making your donation twice as valuable and helping to ensure our future during this exceptional time.

The money you paid in processing fees has already been spent on just that — all the fees associated with the transaction, including credit card fees. In fact, when we process a refund, the Festival is then responsible for another fee of 4.5% of your order.

Our plan is to have everything processed by the end of May. If you have not received your requested refund by July 1, please call (607) 547-2255 or e-mail info@glimmerglass.org.

We will be working with local and state health officials throughout the year in order to make any adjustments that can make attending a performance at our various venues as safe as possible. We will let you know what those adjustments might be.

We plan to announce the 2021 Festival in the fall. Ticket packages will go on sale then. Ticket package buyers whose seats roll over from year to year will retain those same seats.

We will spend this summer creating unique and interesting content to keep you engaged and entertained and working toward a stronger Glimmerglass for 2021 and beyond. 

More specifically, this summer and fall, the Festival will focus on its education programs. The company has resources in the works for the members of our 2020 Young Artists Program, Summer Internship Program, and our local Youth Opera Program.

Additionally, we will take our Town Hall series virtual, starting with a Live Conversation with Zambello and Festival Music Director Joseph Colaneri. The Festival directors will discuss the role of an arts organization in a rapidly changing environment and will take the opportunity to answer questions. More information regarding this event will be shared at a later date. Additional special guests will include Sister Helen Prejean, Tana Ross, and others to be announced.

Thank you so much for asking. This is a tough time for everyone, and particularly difficult for arts organizations, nonprofits, and small businesses. If you are able, please consider making a donation to the Festival this year. Every little bit helps.