I love Diana Ross. I was at her show on July 21, 1983, in Central Park that was cut short by torrential rain with a booming thunderstorm. I remember running through pounding showers with my best friend Allison. Diana was good (very, very good!) and stunned in a rainbow-fringed coat, performing for 450,000 fans. The singer came back the next night for a makeup show. 

Oldies like You Can’t Hurry Love (with The Supremes), Stop in the Name of Love, Ain't No Mountain High Enough and more, are timeless. Ross is an original; a national treasure with a unique lyric soprano and smoky lower range.

Ross has canceled shows until June 2021, along with artists like Madonna, Mariah Carey, The Weeknd, Rascal Flatts and an endless list of other talents. Billboard posted a list of cancellations due to the threat of COVID-19.

The arts enhance life. It's sad to learn that the Metropolitan Opera also canceled in-house shows until the end of the year. How can you socially distance when you're in a theater with seats shoulder-to-shoulder? The only viable option would be to sit in every other (or 2) seat. Given production costs, that is probably not viable.

Many actors, musicians, other performers and crews cannot go to their gigs and it affects their livelihood. It is a tough break if you primarily perform to make a living. But it’s also a tough break for people like me who thoroughly enjoy the artistry of live performances. 

Having the option to go to a live show is a privilege. Now, for the most part, that’s gone. 

I appreciate virtual shows that are streamed gratis by generous artists. And I’m taking some creative Zoom classes – but it’s just not the same. The excitement of attending a live show can't be captured or duplicated through streaming.    

Even if you are not directly involved in the arts as a performer, just watching a show benefits mental health. A study from the World Health Organization supports this concept that involvement in the arts enhances health and well-being.

When we can eventually return to "normalcy," I will appreciate seeing a live show more than I ever did -- even if it's in a local venue with a neighborhood act.