In the COVID-19 era, a fire escape is a stage and the parking lot is an audience —  at least at Macon’s historic The Grand Opera House.   

The Grand Opera House will be holding “Broadway Does Divas,” a socially-distanced, free, diva-themed cabaret on their fire-escape on March 27 at 8 p.m., according to their website, thegrandmacon.com. 

The Grand, known as the “Home for Broadway in Central Georgia,” has produced the “Broadway Does” cabaret series since the middle of 2020 as a way to combat the challenge of continuing theatre in a pandemic, said Julia Rubens, Mercer University’s Director of Art Marketing and the producer of the “Broadway Does” series.

“The Broadway Does series is this amazing way to literally turn the theater inside out,” Rubens said. 

“Broadway Does Divas” will be the third installment of the Grand’s popular “Broadway Does” cabaret series, and will include music from Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton, and other famous vocal divas, Rubens said. 

Performers for the “Broadway Does” series come from the Macon community, as the COVID-19 Pandemic forced the Grand to use community talent rather than their usual touring companies, Rubens said.

“The theme for our season is that we are really trying to make the stars of our community, the stars of our stage,” Rubens said. “Part of that’s practical, but part of that is the cool ethos of saying, hey, since we can’t bring outside artists, let’s put a spotlight on each other, and let’s really support each other during this time.” 

“Broadway Does Divas” is a free event, and seating is first-come, first-served, according to the Grand’s website.

Limited seating will take place in the Grand’s parking lot, with attendees providing their own seating, and the seating will be opened starting at 6:30 p.m., Rubens said. 

“We’ll have an option to pre-purchase meals by Plate who does fine dining, sort of meal takeout boxes,” Rubens said. “We’ll have the bar open starting at 6:30 p.m., and so people can camp out really like a festival style atmosphere where you bring your lawn chairs.” 

The “Broadway Does” series will continue with “Broadway Does Boy Bands” on May 22, with open auditions starting April 1. Anyone interested in auditioning can contact Julia Rubens at rubens_ja.mercer.edu, and additional information can be found at thegrandmacon.com, Rubens said. 

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