Broadway and the Coronavirus — Page 3

From various tweets and postings from actors as well as Broadway League it looks like they are taking extra precautions.  Broadway League has restricted all backstage visitors for 30 days including no family or friends (not sure what will happen to those who have a charity backstage tour if they will be able to reschedule since with Beetlejuice they only have 3 months left at Winter Garden).  Hadestown won't be stagedooring for a month, Armie Hammer stage doored last night after The Minutes, Nikki Renee Daniels of Company tweeted that they have suspended stage dooring for two weeks and will then reassess, Kerry Butler of Beetlejuice stated she will stage door but will use her own pen, and at Come From Away someone who stage doored said a few actors came out wearing latex gloves to sign.  At the moment it looks like while backstage tours are suspended per Broadway League, the individual casts and ensembles are being allowed to choose if they wish to stage door or are making the decision as a company.

I haven't seen anything about BCEFA and it being postponed, though someone on reddit stated BCEFA would staff the collections if any of the ensembles felt uncomfortable.

DAME said: "mailhandler777 said: "I go to NYC every weekend and will continue to do so for the next 2 weekends as I have tickets to shows and concerts. Not worried at all and I'm not about to live in a bubble either. "

Good for you honey . I have two friends in Italy going thru hell right now and know one of the ill in Westchester. We don’t know anything .. but it certainly ain’t worth a broadway show to me . It’s about being careful and cautious."

 

I hear you Dame- we have friends in Italy as well going thru HELL ~ 

Italy announces lockdown as global coronavirus cases surpass 105,000

Coronavirus: Italy quarantines 16m people – 

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sppunk said: "mailhandler777 said: "sppunk said: "We are seeing The Minutes, Company and Six next weekend. I’m more worried about Amtrak cancelling the train from
Harrisburg than the showsbeing cancelled."

Drive to Hamilton NJ and take the NJ Transit in. That's what I do. I'm from Lebanon,PA."

We do sometimes - especially for day trips - but for a weekend we take the train. We park at Seacaucus if it’s one day, but overnight fees there get crazy high sometimes so avoid leaving the car overnight."

You can park at Princeton Junction for $6 a day.

Just watched Mayor de Blasio’s latest news briefing. I have tickets to two shows (via TDF) in the weeks ahead that I’m thinking of no longer attending. The stark reality is that the majority of Broadway goers are older...many in their golden years. The mayor has cautioned that those w these five underlying conditions - lung disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes & those with compromised immune systems should avoid attending public events or be in spaces w large crowds. If you smoke or vape, you’re also vulnerable.

Given the audience makeup of shows and the extremely tight quarters in theaters, it doesn’t seem to be the most prudent decision to attend shows. I had an older gentlemen virtually cough up a lung next to me last week at a show and not once did he cover his mouth in his arm as recommended. He hardly covered his mouth at all and I almost thought about leaving bc I have respiratory issues. Was not only concerned for myself but also for my son who was in tow. Would be lying if the virus didn’t come across my mind.

I hate to see how this crisis could impact the creative community but we’re facing a daunting reality. NY could soon be another epicenter of this crisis. Other large public events are being cancelled at ever higher rates. Sadly, it seems it may be time to start being cautious about attending shows particularly w the lack of widespread testing.

Updated On: 3/8/20 at 04:23 PM

RWPrincess said: "I saw The Lion King matinee yesterday and the theater was full or at least the Orchestra was. I did notice security officers wearing gloves--I'm not sure if they usually do that.Times Square did seem a bit less crowded than usual but I alsothink this is one of thoselull weeks when schools are all in session and not much travel going on. They also did the BCEFA collection--I saw both cast members and non-cast members collecting. Earlier this week I saw the Celine Dion concert also to a full house.

I have tickets to a number of shows this month and next so I'm trying to figure out what to do on a show by show basis. I'm not scared per se but I am considered high risk due to a heart condition. I do hope that Audience Rewards shows some flexibility if people have to cancel or change dates. In the past, they haven't."

I've cancelled Audience Rewards tickets several times before, and for reasons not nearly as serious as this virus. I can't imagine they'd have a problem with it.

Hadestown tickets seem to have had a steep price drop. Looking at the rest of March, they're as low as $79 in the front mezz. There's some orchestra seats for less than $100 as well. I'm not sure if this is connected to the virus or not, nor have I checked prices for other shows, but I assume it's connected. I'll probably buy tickets for round 3 once I check my own schedule. Might as well take advantage of discounts while I can, I suppose.

Pleased to report to those off us not in easy access of The Tri-State Area, Telecharge, BAM, Audience Rewards and ATG (finally) have all refunded tickets due to covid-19.  Since there are many of us that had planned trips to NYC that got cancelled.

New Yorkers - if you are comfortable now would be a great time to support Broadway and Off-Broadway and buy tickets, full priced kind, and support the Theater since so many of us can't make it to the City right now. 

Updated On: 3/8/20 at 07:27 PM

I'm getting annoyed with the constant contradicting news that's going on. I completely understand those who have medical issues where this might make that worse. But, it's like one minute the reports are "so many people have died." Then the next minute it's "this person caught it, but they are okay and quarantined in their home." It makes my head spin.

I also am not sure what's going to happen because I work in a retail store. Not in NYC, but in northwest NJ. It's crazy how we are sold out of hand sanitizer and running extremely low on lysol and clorox products, but not hand soap. People are hoarding these items. But, I find it interesting at how worried people are acting, but don't seem to care about me handling their items or money when I do have to check people out.

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I have a trip planned into the city the last weekend of May. Honestly, unless shows are canceled I’ll be there. I don’t plan on missing Patti.

DeBlasio has told older and sick New Yorkers to avoid public transit. Oh, and the State Department is telling Americans to stay off cruise ships.

Duh. 

VernonGersch said: "Pleased to report to those off us not in easy access of The Trip-State Area, Telecharge, BAM, Audience Rewards and ATG (finally) have all refunded tickets due to covid-19. Since there are many of us that had planned trips to NYC that got cancelled.

New Yorkers - if you are comfortable now would be a great time to support Broadway and Off-Broadway and buy tickets, full priced kind, and support the Theater since so many of us can't make it to the City right now."

Happy to hear that Vernon!

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Has anyone had any luck getting refunds or post-dated tickets from TDF?

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That guy in westchester really did some damage on his own. I think they said like 50 cases are traced to him alone. It's amazing to me that a simple concept as washing your hands is so hard for people. I'll go to the movie theater after a busy movie and afterwards head to the bathroom. I'll see at least 4-5 guys just skip washing their hands

It's ridiculous to me how unsanitary the general public actually is