MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s Theatre and Dance department will host its 2020-21 academic season of performances in a virtual mode in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In following the lead of other university theaters and professional theaters around the country, we recognized that streaming and other virtual experiences would be the safest and most effective way to share our productions with our audiences at this time,” said NMU Theatre and Dance in its season announcement. “Our top priority has been, and continues to be, the wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff, audience members and community, and for this reason, we will not be offering in-person performances during the academic year.”

An overview of the schedule follows:

≤ “War of the Worlds,” Nov. 5-8: Virtual Performance/Radio Show

≤ North x North Coast, Nov. 17-22: Virtual Performance

≤ “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 10-13: Virtual Performance/Radio Show

≤ Panowski Playwriting Award Winner, Feb. 4-13: Live Streaming

≤ “Romeo and Juliet,” March 25-April 3: Live Streaming

≤ Spotlight Variety Show, April 15-17: Live Streaming

As part of its summer series, the 2021 North Coast Theatre and Dance Festival will include:

≤ North Coast Dance Festival, April 22-24: Live Streaming

≤ Woodland Sky, May 14-15: Live Streaming

≤ Drag Show, June 4-5: Shoreline Theatre

≤ Leah Hocking, June 16-19: Shoreline Theatre

≤ Buffett Bash, June 25-26: Shoreline Theatre

The Shoreline Theatre is an outdoor venue which allows for social distancing.

The March 2020 production of “Cats” was postponed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. NMU Theatre and Dance was unable to secure the streaming rights for the production, which they had planned to reschedule for the spring of 2021.

“With heavy hearts, we must walk away from this production,” said NMU Theatre and Dance in its season announcement. “This decision was not made lightly, but with the intention of keeping a season possible and giving our students as many opportunities as we can while also keeping them, and our audiences, safe and healthy.”

Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased in-person at the Berry Events Center, online at tickets.nmu.edu, via email at tickets@nmu.edu or over the phone at 906-227-1032. The Berry Events ticketing office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. this semester and is operating by appointment only.

NMU Theatre and Dance is offering a flex-10 pass and a flex-5 pass this season. Note that all productions, dates and times are subject to change.