Both the Class A and Class B Maine Drama Festival contests and the New England Drama Festival have been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus.

The Class A Maine Drama Festival was scheduled for March 20 and 21 at Falmouth High School. The Class B state competition was scheduled for March 20 and 21 at Oceanside High School in Rockland.

A statement on the Maine Drama Council’s website from the Maine Principals’ Association said it had received “numerous calls and emails asking many questions regarding COVID-19 and the suspension of activities.”

“Maine Principals’ Association’s recommendation is to follow the position of many national, state and local groups on suspending activities for the time being,” it says. “This decision was made with utmost importance for the health, wellness, and safety of the students, staff, and the entire school community.”

Local Class A schools that were to have competed in the Maine Drama Festival include Waterville Senior High School, performing “Christmas With Little Women,” by Phyllis McCallum,” and Skowhegan Area High School, with “Bridge,” by Jane Decker.

Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield was to have performed “The Book of Will,” by Lauren Gunderson,” in Class B at the state festival.

A letter from the New England Drama Festival’s Council’s president, Peter Tarsi, was posted on the council’s website confirming the New England events have been canceled this year.

The letter, dated March 11, says the 2020 event was to be held April 16-18 at Paramount Theater in Rutland, Vermont.

“The health and safety of all students, educators, and patrons of NEDF are of paramount importance and this decision was made through open communication among council officers from all six states utilizing publicly available information regarding the outbreak,” the letter says.

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