BOOTH USHER w/ VIRUS

[BroadwayBuzz2]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 3:33pm

Hi.
Does anyone have any intel as to where the usher was primarily located in the Booth?
Also male or female?

Just trying to put my mind at ease a bit since I was there when they were working.


Thanks!

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 3:37pm

BroadwayBuzz2 said: "Hi.
Does anyone have any intel as to where the usher was primarily located in the Booth?
Also male or female?

Just trying to put my mind at ease a bit since I was there when they were working.


Thanks!"

 

I was there on Saturday. I'm not going to lie--I'm worried. Very worried. Male, he was in the mezzanine. 

 

[cougarnewtin]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 3:47pm

“Male, he was in the mezzanine.”

Is that the usher you had or the usher with the virus? I was there on the 4th. I had a woman in the left mezzanine.

 

 

Updated On: 3/12/20 at 03:47 PM

[Pashacar]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 4:04pm

The article said they were managing the line, so I imagine they were outside.

Also, many experts say that most of us will get this eventually, and nearly 90% of cases will be very mild and pass without any need of intervention. Just keep an eye on yourself, take the appropriate precautions, and seek treatment if you start to have a fever or trouble breathing.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 4:10pm

^they were managing the line when they worked at the Brooks Atkinson, but I don’t believe that was the case when they worked at the Booth

[ballrmdancer]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 4:15pm

I thought that the proper protocol is that all staff and audience who were exposed to the infected usher are supposed to quarantine so as not to spread the virus further.  

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 4:25pm

ballrmdancer said: "I thought that the proper protocol is thatall staff and audience who were exposed to the infected usher are supposed to quarantine so as not to spread the virus further."

It is. When the Shuberts were made aware they should have cancelled the performances and staff should have gone into quarantine.  They were absolutely irresponsible, if not criminal. 

[homer212]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 5:47pm

Please respond with more specifics.  When you mention the male usher in mezzanine, is that the usher you HAD or have you confirmed that this is the usher that tested positive?

 

[lolo3]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 7:28pm

I’d really like to know more specifics too. I was there for the matinee on 3/7. I’m wondering if the usher was at both matinee and evening shows.
Telecharge gave me a disconnected line for the Shubert Org and the number I got from google was also disconnected.

[lolo3]

Posted: 3/12/20 at 7:32pm

The announcement from the theater only addressed high risk audience members and said to monitor symptoms. I’m confused whether all audience members are considered exposed.

“Employees of the theaters and productions who may have been exposed were notified and advised to monitor their health diligently and follow best practices related to personal hygiene, as well as directed to stay at home if they are ill. In addition, we are urging any high-risk audience members who attended these performances in the past several days to follow similar guidance.”

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 3/13/20 at 12:48am

I was in the mezzanine at the booth last Thursday. I called 311 to report it and they told me that I couldn’t do anything until I had symptoms and then I should call my healthcare provider.

Posted: 3/13/20 at 8:43am

I was there on 3/6. I never received any notification and only realized I might have come in contact by reading the article on this board. One source said that the usher in question worked orchestra one of the nights which is where I was sitting. I contacted my local health department and was advised to self quarantine. I realize my chances of getting sick are slim but I’m still a little nervous.

[ZeroMustTell]

Posted: 3/13/20 at 10:25am

Having been in the mezzanine on the 7th, I find it odd I’m getting all my info from a message board. Wouldn’t the proper response from the Booth or Schubert’s be to contact those ticket holders and provide them with pertinent information? I imagine not everyone who was there realizes they were in possible contact.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 3/13/20 at 11:09am

ZeroMustTell said: "Having been in the mezzanineon the 7th, I find it odd I’m getting all my infofrom a message board. Wouldn’t the proper response from the Booth or Schubert’s be to contact those ticket holders and provide them with pertinent information? I imagine not everyone who was there realizes they were in possible contact."

Unfortunately they are probably trying to disassociate from it as much as possible so as to limit their liability.

That said, the virus is widespread enough at this point that you are just as likely to have gotten it outside the theater. We are past the point where tracing individual cases is useful. Try to avoid nonessential activities, practice elevated hygiene, and monitor any potential symptoms.

[lachri5]

Posted: 3/13/20 at 11:57am

I hope the usher gets well soon. 

[ZeroMustTell]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 11:18am

lolo3 said: "I’d really like to know more specifics too. I was there for the matinee on 3/7. I’m wondering if the usher was at both matinee and evening shows.
Telecharge gave me a disconnected line for the Shubert Org and the number I got from google was also disconnected."

New York Times updated the original article. It now states the usher worked March 3-6 and was not there on the 7th.

[lolo3]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 11:41am

Thank you for pointing that out!
I wonder if it has much of a difference in terms of exposure since it was probably spreading among the staff at that point. Hope they are all well.
I’ve contacted a couple outlets that have not posted corrections. No one needs additional confusion right now.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 3:33pm

The usher who got sick was, like I am, a sub usher. I quickly picked up on that when I read the article in The NY Times. The only way an usher can work for two different companies (in this case, Shubert and Nederlander.) is by being a sub. Yes, while the article said it was an usher who worked at the booth, the fact of the matter is that while they did work at both a Shubert and Nederlander house, it’s hard to say which house they got it from. He could have gotten it from the Booth then went to the
Brooks, or even the other way around. Now, as someone who’s a sub usher who also works for the same two companies. I’m worried for the ushers at both theatres. I’ve ushered at the Brooks more times than I can count. And, as a result, have many friends that work there so I’m worried for them. That’s not to say I don’t feel bad for the ushers at the Booth either. And, for obvious reasons, they are not nor will they release the name of the usher in question

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 3:39pm

Coronavirus Can Live in Patients for Five Weeks After Contagion

For those lucky enough not to be living through the Italian lockdown, pay attention: What’s happening in Milan, Florence and Rome offers a likely preview of what’s coming to New York, London or Paris in a week or two

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 4:34pm

Fosse76 said: "When the Shuberts were made aware they should have cancelled the performances and staff should have gone into quarantine. They were absolutely irresponsible, if not criminal."

That is a very serious accusation. What is your basis for making it? I just read the NY Times article. It says: "'Immediately upon learning of the positive test, both organizations began taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of our audiences, performers, crew, and building staff,' the owners said."

How would the Shuberts have known the usher was infectious unless the usher him/herself knew so? In that case, wouldn't the usher have been responsible for not self-quarantining? Not that I am saying that is the case; on the contrary, the Times apparently has no reason to think so. But you have called the Shuberts irresponsible or even criminal in a public forum. On what basis?

Making such accusations without basis in fact could discourage people from coming forward if they know they are ill and warning others; they might fear false accusations of irresposibility or criminality. If you levied that accusation without evidence, you would now owe the Shuberts -- and, implicitly, the usher -- a prompt public apology. 

 

 

Updated On: 3/14/20 at 04:34 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 5:13pm

Theater'sBestFriend said: "Fosse76 said: "When the Shuberts were made aware they should have cancelled the performances and staff should have gone into quarantine. They were absolutely irresponsible, if not criminal."

That is a very serious accusation. What is your basis for making it?I just read the NY Times article. It says: "'Immediately upon learning of the positive test, both organizations began taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of our audiences, performers, crew, and building staff,'the owners said."

How would the Shuberts have knownthe usher was infectious unless the usherhim/herself knew so? In that case, wouldn't the usher have been responsible for not self-quarantining? Not that I am saying that is the case; on the contrary, the Times apparently hasno reason to think so. But you havecalled the Shuberts irresponsible or even criminal in a public forum. On what basis?

Making such accusations without basis in fact could discourage people from coming forward if they know they are ill and warning others; they mightfear false accusations of irresposibility or criminality.If you levied that accusationwithout evidence,you would now owe the Shuberts -- and, implicitly, the usher -- a prompt publicapology."

The Shubert Organization was made aware at approximately 12:30pm on Wednesday that an usher who had worked at the Booth Theatre in the last week had tested positive.  At that moment,  they should have cancelled both performances and request the staff to self quarantine. Scrubbing down the theatre between shows does nothing if the staff who are in the building are infected. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 5:13pm

Theater'sBestFriend said: "Fosse76 said: "When the Shuberts were made aware they should have cancelled the performances and staff should have gone into quarantine. They were absolutely irresponsible, if not criminal."

That is a very serious accusation. What is your basis for making it?I just read the NY Times article. It says: "'Immediately upon learning of the positive test, both organizations began taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of our audiences, performers, crew, and building staff,'the owners said."

How would the Shuberts have knownthe usher was infectious unless the usherhim/herself knew so? In that case, wouldn't the usher have been responsible for not self-quarantining? Not that I am saying that is the case; on the contrary, the Times apparently hasno reason to think so. But you havecalled the Shuberts irresponsible or even criminal in a public forum. On what basis?

Making such accusations without basis in fact could discourage people from coming forward if they know they are ill and warning others; they mightfear false accusations of irresposibility or criminality.If you levied that accusationwithout evidence,you would now owe the Shuberts -- and, implicitly, the usher -- a prompt publicapology."

The Shubert Organization was made aware at approximately 12:30pm on Wednesday that an usher who had worked at the Booth Theatre in the last week had tested positive.  At that moment,  they should have cancelled both performances and request the staff to self quarantine. Scrubbing down the theatre between shows does nothing if the staff who are in the building are infected. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 5:17pm

Infected people without symptoms might be driving the spread of coronavirus more than we realized

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-spread/index.html

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 5:18pm

Fosse76 said: "The Shubert Organization was made aware at approximately 12:30pm on Wednesday that an usher who had worked atthe Booth Theatre in the last week had tested positive. At that moment, they should have cancelled both performances and request the staffto self quarantine. Scrubbing down the theatre between shows does nothing if the staffwho arein the building are infected."

What is your proof?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/14/20 at 5:25pm

Theater'sBestFriend said: "Fosse76 said: "The Shubert Organization was made aware at approximately 12:30pm on Wednesday that an usher who had worked atthe Booth Theatre in the last week had tested positive. At that moment, they should have cancelled both performances and request the staffto self quarantine. Scrubbing down the theatre between shows does nothing if the staffwho arein the building are infected."

What is your proof?"

I work there. I don't need to provide proof to you. 

**EDIT

CORRECTION: The staff were notified before the Wednesday matinee.  The Shuberts learned on TUESDAY NIGHT that the usher had been infected and wad symptomatic. This USA article quotes the official statement. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/03/11/broadway-usher-tests-positive-coronavirus-shows-still-happening/5026608002/

Updated On: 3/14/20 at 05:25 PM