Fort Worth Opera is Still on This Weekend

The Fort Worth schools closed today due concerns about swine flu virus. This is likely what prompted the Fort Worth Opera to send a press release saying that productions of Carmen, Cinderella and Dead Man Walking scheduled for this weekend are still scheduled for this weekend.

They also suggest that ticketholders who are experiencing flu-like symptoms stay home, no matter how mild the symptoms may be. And if you do stay home because you’re sick, the value of your ticket can be applied to a future performance if you have a doctor’s note saying you or a family member were experiencing symptoms similar to the virus. Or you can donate it to the opera for a tax deduction.

The Opera’s press release after the jump. And if you hear of, or have, flu-related cancellations, let us know and we’ll post them.

A note to our patrons about Swine Flu:

WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SWINE FLU VIRUS. However, to ease concerns over the spread of the H1N1 virus (commonly called the “swine flu”) and to promote public health, Fort Worth Opera is taking the following steps for the remainder of the 2009 Festival season:

All employees, contractors, volunteers, and ushers will be provided with updated swine flu information per the Center for Disease Control, including tips to prevent the spread of the disease and symptoms.

All employees, contractors, volunteers, and ushers have been instructed to stay home if they experience any symptoms of the H1N1 virus, no matter how mild, and until they have been cleared by a medical professional to return to work.

Employees, contractors, volunteers and ushers working at Fort Worth Opera Festival performances at Bass Performance Hall will be provided hand sanitizer and instructed to use it frequently as well as provide it to customers upon request.

Fort Worth Opera is working with Bass Performance Hall to coordinate additional measures to provide a safe and entertaining environment for patrons attending the Fort Worth Opera Festival.

Cough drops will be provided at each performance free of charge.

NO PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN CANCELED OR POSTPONED.

As a rule, ticket holders usually do not attend opera when feeling sick, as the opera form is not conducive to coughing or getting up and down due to illness.

****However, as an additional precaution, we want to remind all ticket holders to consult the Center for Disease Control or other reliable source for H1N1 symptom information and request that you STAY HOME and not attend an opera if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, no matter how mild.

If you have to miss a performance because you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, we will allow you to apply the value of the ticket purchase to a future purchase provided you provide a doctor’s note to show you or a family member were experiencing symptoms similar to the H1N1 virus at the time of the performance(s). You may also donate the tickets back to Fort Worth Opera for resale and receive credit in the form of a tax-deductible donation. To exercise either option, call 817.731.0726, fax the doctor’s note and a copy of your tickets to 817.731.0835 or email us at [email protected].

For more information about Swine Flu, visit the CDC website.