Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:06pm
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:09pm
We need to somehow have massive testing so we can see how many folks are infected and where. Shutting things down may be necessary but it is somewhat like putting the cart before the horse. Everyone is grasping at straws because the government has handled things slowly and poorly.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:10pm
trpguyy said: "It also doesn’t make sense as reported earlier in the thread. Companies are being informed this morning? There isn’t an actor in a theater right now anywhere on Broadway. The only people in theaters right now are cleaning staff and stagehands of shows that have yet to open. Shows in rehearsals won’t have cast for another hour+, and these types of huge announcement almost always are in front of the entire company as a whole. "
There are shows that do extended Thursday work calls instead of Wednesdays prior to the matinee. So no, it isn’t just shows that haven’t opened that have people in house right now. Folks have been at work since 8am.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:13pm
It seems a little strange to me that things will shut down as quickly as tonight, when the Moulin Rouge matinee is going on as scheduled per Ashley Loren's tweet.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:15pm
FatedDarling said: "trpguyy said: "It also doesn’t make sense as reported earlier in the thread. Companies are being informed this morning? There isn’t an actor in a theater right now anywhere on Broadway. The only people in theaters right now are cleaning staff and stagehands of shows that have yet to open. Shows in rehearsals won’t have cast for another hour+, and these types of huge announcement almost always are in front of the entire company as a whole. "
There are shows that do extended Thursday work calls instead of Wednesdays prior to the matinee. So no, it isn’t just shows that haven’t opened that have people in house right now. Folks have been at work since 8am."
Sure, stagehands, which I did note. The premise stands, this announcement would be made once to the entire company.
edit: as I also wrote earlier, I don’t think that the information is necessarily untrue, I take issue with the wording that shows have already been informed. I do not believe that to be plausible.
Updated On: 3/12/20 at 12:15 PM
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:44pm
Metropolitan Opera canceled all perf’s through March 31
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:55pm
bwaydreamer said: "What if the theater owners, the Shuberts and Nederlanders and the Jordan Roth's of the world, just pay to put the casts and crew on hold for a month or two while they closed the theaters? They are all billionaires and they would barely even feel it. I don't understand why this is so hard. Jordan Roth could keep his shows running based off the cost of his wardrobe for one week alone."
The theater owners don't pay the shows' costs, the producers do. I agree they could afford to float costs but that's not really how it works. What they can do is not charge rent for that time.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:55pm
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:03pm
Carnegie Hall has also cancelled all performances through March 31.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:05pm
Jordan Catalano said: "If this is being implemented starting tonight, they need to make the announcement ASAP so people can alter their plans."
Seriously. I'm supposed to fly in from Chicago on Monday.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:12pm
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:15pm
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:17pm
A few more updates: https://deadline.com/2020/03/broadway-coronavirus-shutdown-theaters-dark-until-easter-1202881005/
Updated On: 3/12/20 at 01:17 PM
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:27pm
FatedDarling said: "The League is currently meeting with DeBlasio’s office. Expect your announcement soon. "
This is true. Which means that shows were not informed earlier today of closings.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:28pm
TobiasRagg said: "There are a few actors being very vocal about wanting Broadway to completely close so that everyone remains safe. The most recent I saw was on Leslie Kritzer’s Instagram"
Kerry Butler posted a similar sentiment. Alex Brightman tweeted his thoughts, that shuttering shows will help with lessening spread but it puts people who depend on the shows in risk of not being able to provide for themselves. I'm hopeful that there will be a solution where those who work on Broadway will be able to get some type of severance or subsidy pay and the theatres can close to lessen the spread of Covid.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:31pm
I feel like the saddest thing about all of this is the timing. Shows in previews, getting ready to begin previews, Broadway debuts, so many opening nights. If this were say August, it would be easier to take. But, as necessary at it will be to do this, it's still a hard pill to swallow. This time of year is usually such a thrill.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:31pm
The question now isn't if but when. Earlier today I heard performances would continue through the Sunday matinee. Now that seems highly, highly unlikely.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:32pm
Brandon Uranwitz has been very, very, vocal.
It's time to close all major tourist attractions, including Broadway.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:33pm
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:34pm
trpguyy said: "FatedDarling said: "The League is currently meeting with DeBlasio’s office. Expect your announcement soon. "
This is true. Which means that shows were not informed earlier today of closings."
I am sure what happened was that people heard the prospect of a 30 day closure was on the table, and then that got repeated around the grapevine.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:36pm
MOULIN ROUGE!'s performance got cancelled for today.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:36pm
Lincoln Center has announced campuswide cancellations for all performances and screenings, beginning today at 5pm and continuing through March 31. At present, this does NOT include LCT, which falls under the Broadway League's umbrella.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:37pm
Kad said: "I am sure what happened was that people heard the prospect of a 30 day closure was on the table, and then that got repeated around the grapevine."
Right. Most people I’ve talked to about it cite this thread as the source of the 30 day rumor.
