As the coronavirus pandemic takes an economic toll on New Jersey, the arts and cultural sector and many of its nonprofits are also being hit hard.

Canceled shows and closed theaters are leading the organizations to make some tough financial decisions. The McCarter Theater in Princeton will lay off most of its full-time staff next month. The board of trustees of the Tony Award-winning theater announced the move to protect its financial future.

“It was very, very sad news,” says New Jersey Theater Alliance Executive Director John McEwen.

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The alliance represents 31 professional theaters and theater companies that produce their own plays and musicals. McEwen says that he believes that more hardships could be on the horizon.

“We have to keep in mind that most theaters and arts organizations only have maybe two to three months of cash on hand,” he says.

The theaters in the alliance employ 320 full-time workers, not including actors, directors and designers, who earn a living throughout the whole year. McEwen says that theaters must plan now for reopening in a way that is far from business as usual.

“We could see individuals getting their temperature taken before they come into the theater. We could see theaters having policies for staggered seating,” he says.

McEwen says that some theaters in New Jersey have taken Paycheck Protection Program loan as part of the federal stimulus to help meet payroll through June.