Lamplighters Music Theatre cancels spring production

Citing audience declines and AB5 costs, the Gilbert and Sullivan company calls off 'Patience' performances in San Francisco and Mountain View.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Lamplighters Music Theatre, a San Francisco-based company that specializes in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, has canceled its spring production of 'Patience' due to financial difficulties. The decision was announced in mid-January, with the board president and executive director citing factors like audience declines and increased costs from the AB5 labor law as the reasons behind the cancellation.

Why it matters

Lamplighters is the only Gilbert and Sullivan company in the U.S. with a year-round staff, and the cancellation highlights the financial challenges facing many performing arts organizations as they try to recover from the pandemic. The impact of AB5, which requires hiring entities to treat more workers as employees, has been particularly difficult for small arts groups like Lamplighters.

The details

Lamplighters had planned to stage 'Patience' from March 21-29 in San Francisco and April 10-11 in Mountain View. Board President Chris Uzelac said the decision was difficult, as singers had held their schedules open for the production. Uzelac and Executive Director Jennifer Delacroix said the company is battling to get audiences back after the pandemic, with a recent 'HMS Pinafore' production failing to reach 50% capacity. At the same time, AB5 has doubled the company's costs for paying artists.

  • Lamplighters announced the cancellation in mid-January 2026.
  • The 'Patience' production had been scheduled for March 21-29 in San Francisco and April 10-11 in Mountain View.

The players

Lamplighters Music Theatre

A San Francisco-based company that specializes in performing the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Chris Uzelac

The board president of Lamplighters Music Theatre, who has been a performer with the company since 2004.

Jennifer Delacroix

The executive director of Lamplighters Music Theatre.

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What they’re saying

“I've been a performer with Lamplighters since 2004. I understand that singers held their schedules open. Singers were counting on this work.”

— Chris Uzelac, Board President (sfchronicle.com)

“We're really battling the couch to get people to leave their homes.”

— Jennifer Delacroix, Executive Director (sfchronicle.com)

What’s next

Lamplighters plans to reinvest the 'Patience' production budget into the rest of the company's season, which will be announced at a later date. The company is also exploring ways to rebrand itself as more family-friendly and perform in smaller venues with longer runs to build word of mouth.

The takeaway

The cancellation of Lamplighters' spring production highlights the ongoing financial challenges facing small performing arts organizations in the wake of the pandemic, particularly as they grapple with the impact of labor laws like AB5. However, the company remains committed to finding new strategies to engage audiences and secure its long-term future.