The ongoing mould scare at CedarBridge Academy has led the Bermuda Festival to cancel its upcoming performances in the school’s Ruth Seaton James auditorium.

Festival chairman John Ellison said yesterday that four acts will have to have their performances relocated from the auditorium to City Hall Theatre, while another act — the Mark Morris Dance Group — has had to be cancelled altogether.

Tickets bought for RSJ performances for the festival, which runs from January 11 to March 3 next year, will be honoured at City Hall or refunded in the case of the Mark Morris Dance Group.

“Due to the uncertainty of the availability of the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the 2007 Bermuda Festival, events scheduled for that venue have been relocated,” said Mr. Ellison.

“Tickets already sold for ‘Principals and Soloists of the Royal Ballet’, ‘Vanguard Jazz Orchestra’, ‘Red Priest’ and ‘Moscow Chamber Orchestra’ have been exchanged for seats in City Hall Theatre. Ticket holders for these performances will be advised by telephone or email of the seats they have been allotted.

“Sadly, there is no alternative venue suitable for the ‘Mark Morris Dance Group’, so they will not be appearing in 2007.”

CedarBridge Academy was closed suddenly on November 1 for environmental health reasons after a dangerous mould was found in its buildings. A clean-up of the school is currently underway but no completion date for the work has yet to be released.

The Festival chairman said they hope to rebook Mark Morris Dance Group for next year. “All tickets sold for Mark Morris performances will be refunded,” Mr. Ellison said. Tickets are currently available through www.bermudafestival.org and www.boxoffice.bm. The festival office opens on November 27.