Jarethan said: "Scarlet Leigh said: "One has to wonder what is a better option for them IF they are given the CHOICE.
Suspend performance for a few weeks, refunding the tickets but saving on operational costs. The pros being total public safety and not spending money on operations but obvious con the the cast and crews will not be getting a paycheck and lose of revenue on 100% of ticket sales in this time.
NOT TO MENTION that this would cause a TOTAL distribution to the season for awards. Shows that would open or start previews in this time frame will risk becoming ineligible for the Tony awards unless exceptions are made to the rules allowing for shows effected in this time frame to still be considered should their opening be delayed beyond the original window of qualification. With Six opening tonight, it COULD end up being the last show to officially qualify under the rules.
OR
Continuing performances and let ticket holders make that choice for themselves while still allowing those not willing to take that risk/can't travel due to restrictions the option of a refund. The pro here is that the cast and crew are still getting paid and they will not be refunding all tickets while the cons here are of course safety but also spending the same operational costs as normal to play to partial or severely discounted houses.
It's a tough call to make and it's possible that the choice will soon be taken from them all together."
i hope that I misread your intention. I love the Tony's as much as anyone, but to include the Tony's as a factor in determining whether to cancelperformances or not is about as shallow and unthinking an observation as I have read here. I hope that I am just misreading it.
In dealing with an issue that has to potential to be devastating for many, even mentioning impact on an awards program and impact on contenders as a decision factor is incomprehensible to me.
I have to admit that I am all over the place on this issue. I live in Florida and am 69 years old. I am in very good health for my age. Never smoked, tobacco products at least, but washospitalized for a week with a bad case of pneumonia 27 years ago, after flying around the world on business in 6 days (Newark-Tokyo-Singapore-London-Newark). I have tickets to 5 productions in the next 2 weeks, expect no refunds and no ability to exchange tickets, based on performance schedules. Despite having to eat (for my wife and I) about $800 in tickets (four of the tickets are atnon-profits), I am not considering going. Sunk cost, minimize risk, etc.
Despite this, I am personally in the camp that believes that, when this thing has passed, we are probably going to look back and conclude that the impact on (previously heathy) virus contractors was pretty minimal STATISTICALLY. But, then I say...why take a chance?
Somewhere in this thread, a person mentioned that he lived with his mother who was in bad health (I seem to recall lung-related, but that may not be accurate), but that hewas seeing Virginia Woolf that night. My immediatereaction was that that was an incredibly selfish act. I know everyone wants to see Laurie Metcalf as Martha and all that, but FOR ME that is taking a lot of risk to see something that, while a masterpiece, is revived constantly and also has a great movie for a Va. Woolf fix. Not the same same as live, but is it really worth taking the chance of risking his mother's life.
For two decades (1970s and 1980s), I saw virtually every Broadwayshow that opened, including a number of real stinkers. Then we had a child and and another and thenI took a job 500 miles away from NYC. Two toddlersand distance meant that I attended NY theatre much less from 1990to 1992, andrarely got to the NY theatre from mid-1992until about 2005, otherthan on business trips in the latter years. I have often lamented the fact that I missed a lot of great shows and --although, I may have seen a number of the musicals on tour -- it is not the same thing, plus the vast majority of limited engagement (and not so limited) plays were lost to me. I used to get so frustrated at what I missed but, reflecting back, in the cosmic order of things, life went on. If
I were in close proximity to elderly people, particularly unhealthy ones, I would suck it up for a while (assumption...this one will run its course) and stay home.
"
Jarethan, Why are you eating the money for your tickets? I hope you at least pursue a refund. I cancelled a tour to Europe that I was going to in May, right at the beginning of this crisis. I got diagnosed with kidney disease at about the same time and felt it was not wise for me to be three plane rides away from home. Had I listened to other people, I would be out $1069, $969 for plane ticket and $200 land deposit. Full payment was due March 1. I pursued a possible refund with the airline and was surprised to find out they refunded the whole amount back to tour company. Of course, tour company said nothing. I ended up getting $649 back. Tour company stated airline kept $320 for fee, when airline stated I got full refund. I am disputing the $320 now on credit card. Let them prove how much I got back from airline. Now they have cancelled all tours. I am going after the $200 they kept for land deposit. My point is, originally I thought I would be out the entire amount.
. I also found out I’m not eligible to be tested. The state health department and CDC are only testing those who have traveled to certain countries and are exhibiting symptoms (understandable as the federal government i.e. the White House dropped the ball by not ensuring we had enough tests ready ahead of time to accommodate everyone). Apparently, people in office nearby overheard part of my conversation and reported me to HR, stating I had been exposed and was possibly inflected... I lived through this **** during the AIDS epidemic. The fear, the gossip mongering, the lies. Site coordinator was apologetic. We should be very concerned and be utilizing universal precautions regarding the virus, but this is what happens when people panic. HR guy said if I was lying to him about not being knowingly exposed to an infected person or infected myself, there could be legal ramifications. He was an a$$.
