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Hermine postpones opening at Richey Suncoast Theatre

 
Published Sept. 7, 2016

NEW PORT RICHEY — Among the blows by Hurricane Hermine, one struck at Richey Suncoast Theatre, destroying a crucial transformer and forcing the venue to postpone its season opener, the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, to Sept. 16.

The show was scheduled to open Sept. 8 and continue weekends through Sept. 25. Now, it will play only two weekends: Sept. 15 to 18 and 23 to 25. Shows are at 8 p.m., except Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

"We're calling everyone with tickets and letting them know," said Marie Skelton, executive director of the theater. Those ticket holders will be offered seats during the remaining shows, though they may not be the exact seats they first bought.

"This is a rare transformer, and we aren't sure we can get another one right away," Skelton said. It controls the signals between backstage and the light and sound board operators, as well as lobby personnel. "We don't want to take a chance something will go wrong during the show," she said.

In addition, water leaked through a side door and trickled into the orchestra pit. There appeared to be some leaks in the roof, too, though exactly where is uncertain, Skelton said. Other than the transformer and leaks, no major damage was done.