Warren Arts may consider an outdoor presentation of “Lord of the Flies” when the show is offered later this year.  

Originally slated for two weekends at the end of March and beginning of April, “Lord of the Flies” was postponed due to COVID-19. While exact dates have not been set, the spring production will likely become a summer one and offered after coronavirus restrictions are relaxed. 

Chad McGee, who says the show will go on, asked Tourism Development Board members to consider partnering with Warren Arts with a possible venue change that is also undetermined at this time.  

“We are looking at moving ‘Lord of the Flies’ outside in the summer for a variety of reasons,” said McGee. “No. 1, I think it will be more comfortable for people to gather outside first before they’ll feel comfortable gathering inside.”

Warren Arts is located at 5482 Manchester Highway in Morrison. 

“We have seven acres,” said McGee. “Moving productions outside was something we planned on doing in the long run anyway, but I have considered downtown. Not sure what the rental is for the downtown greenspace. Would this board consider partnering with us?”

Mayor Ben Newman suggested Pepper Branch Park as an alternate location. 

“Pepper Branch might even be better,” said McGee. “I think we might do it at our location, just because of moving stuff and storage. We’ll probably do two weekends. I had thought about this. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the community. Just keep this in the back of your minds. It will likely be June or July. I don’t think we’ll be able to congregate in any size before June or July at this point.”

Newman replied, “Let us know which one you might be more interested in. I think that Pepper Branch is great. You’d have a good background, with the water there, for ‘Lord of the Flies.’ We do have bathrooms down there now.” 

Alderman Steve Harvey added, “We have a stage, too.”

“I’ll mention this to the (Warren Arts) board as something to consider,” said McGee. “We aren’t there yet. We haven’t 100 percent decided to do this outside. I think it would be easier to ease people back into going into crowds in an outdoor venue.”

“Lord of the Flies” is a 1954 novel by Nobel Prize-winning British author William Golding. The book focuses on a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island and their disastrous attempt to govern themselves.