ST. LOUIS: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has announced the postponement of the beginning of its 2020-21 season until Dec. 2020 at the earliest. The theatre is currently planning to reopen in December with A Christmas Carol before running an extended winter and spring season in 2021.

“While we are going to greatly miss connecting with our patrons in September, we understand that the Rep exists within a much larger public health picture for the St. Louis region,” said artistic director Hana S. Sharif in a statement. “We want to ensure that when we reopen, it’s in a way that maximizes the health and safety of our community.”

The Rep plans to formally announce the reconfigured schedule on Sept. 1. The 2020-21 mainstage season was to include Little Shop of Horrors, Catherine Butterfield’s Top of the World, Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap, Karen Zacarías’ Native Gardens, Regina Taylor’s  Oo-Bla-Dee, and David Catlin’s adaptation of Moby Dick.

The Rep, along with other local cultural organizations, formed the collective St. Louis Reopening The Arts Work Group to create a unified plan that looks at the CDC’s recommendations and federal, state, and local government guidelines. In a statement, Sharif said the group is looking at disinfecting, social distancing, face coverings, temperature screenings, and more “to create a safe environment for everyone to enjoy live art, music, and theatre as soon as possible.”