TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER
Dear Members and Friends,
Since the Friends of Greenbelt Theatre reopened the Old Greenbelt Theatre on May 1, 2015, we have prided ourselves on never going a day without showing a movie. We’ve been there through snow days, every Federal holiday, a major renovation, and all the quiet normal days in between. It’s not some sort of stunt to keep a streak going, it’s because we love what we do and are committed to being here as a resource for the community.
Today we will close our doors for the first time for the same reasons: we take our role in the community seriously and cannot run the risk of being a site of transmission.
Starting today (Friday, March 13), the Old Greenbelt Theatre will be closed. We will work closely with the City of Greenbelt to monitor the situation and decide on a reopening date. All special events – where possible – will be rescheduled. And, of course, if you have bought tickets for an event that is now postponed, we will honor those tickets at the future show. If you’ve already purchased a ticket for an event, you will receive an email shortly.
However, we also know that at a time like this community connection remains as important as ever. We are working on plans to continue our programming in a way that will allow you to still participate with film and film education from the safety and comfort of your home. Please keep an eye out for our weekly Tuesday email for instructions on how to participate. We’ll have a little something for everyone, and we hope it makes these days of stress and anxiety easier to cope with and just a bit brighter.
During our closure, we will also be working on a plan for reopening safely, as the landscape of movie-going may change for a while even after we can open our doors again.
This will be a difficult time for us as a staff – as Executive Director I am responsible for a staff of 10 – and for that reason closing the theater was not an easy decision to make, but it is clearly the right one at this time. As I said in the beginning, we love what we do, and that has not changed. Keep an eye out for virtual programming coming from us soon. We hope to break the tedium of self-isolation and continue to serve as a valued community resource.
Thank you for your understanding and support. We hope you all stay safe and well. We look forward to seeing you at the movies before too long.
Take care,
Caitlin
Caitlin McGrath
Executive Director
Friends of Greenbelt Theatre