COVID Cancellations — Page 14

They do rapid tests right before curtain because show producers don't want to pay people to go get tested on their own time, something Equity has been fighting for atleast the last month or so

RippedMan said: "They can't test the cast/crew on their way out at night because that poses a HUGE concern for what happens on their travels home, during the day, on their travels to the theater. Not sure if the call times for the cast have changed, but usually most of them aren't required to be there until 30min before curtain. So not sure how testing works. Are they now called much earlier to the show and just have to wait around to test everyone?"

But that risk would be posed anyway regardless of when the test was administered... you don't necessarily test positive immediately. In speaking with a covid protocol person recently she said it's just important that the testing happens frequently and that the time of day doesn't really matter. Unions won't allow the cast and crew to have to be there earlier than they already are from what I understand.

I canceled a trip up to NYC I was planning this month and it's a good thing I did because the show I wanted to see ended up being canceled the weekend I would have gone. I don't want to spend all that money for plane tickets and a hotel to have my show canceled at the half hour and it's too late to scramble to get a ticket for something else. I'll just wait till things get better and there are fewer cancelations.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Cancels Performances At CTGLA Due To COVID-19

Just got the email from CTG that A Christmas Carol tomorrow in Los Angeles is cancelled. Happening everywhere now.

SmoothLover said: "The Beaumont is doing the spit test every few days and they are having no problems."

give it 48 hours

There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding regarding the testing requirements. ALL Broadway employees are required to be tested at least twice per week. Some shows are requiring more. Some theaters allow the rapid test (of which there are two types) and some require the 24h lab pcr. There are several testing sites throughout Times Square, and each theatre/show has assigned testing days. The tests are valid for a maximum of 4 days. Most employees are therefore tested on the last valid day of their previous test. So theaters aren't violating the agreement they made with AEA regarding testing by allowing employees in the theater on their testing day without results. If an employee isn't scheduled to work on his/her testing day, s/he is required to be tested the day s/he returns, but is not supposed to enter the theatre until the results come through. I've witnessed that it is strictly enforced with FOH staff, but it's not enforced with backstage personnel/actors.

There are some issues, of course: Covid can obviously develop during the period after the last test and prior to the next one. If a lab PCR test was administered, it can be two or three shows before the results are known, exposing everyone if positive. And Come from Away can't possibly be the only show testing cast and crew at its theater (does anyone really think Patti LuPone is sitting at the Marriott Marquis testing site getting swabbed)? That's added risk of exposure. Outside of daily testing, it's the lack of inconsistent enforcement of safety protocols (and notice all cases have been backstage personnel...the ones that have weaker enforcement).

And one thing that is also concerning, is the theaters are only telling people of exposure in their departments. So if you are front of house and someone backstage gets covid, you do not get notified, and vice versa. As all employees enter the stage door, and there is some comingling of backstage and FOH staff, everyone should be notified. But what is also aggravating is the lack of safety concern for FOH Staff: if there is a positive case of covid that doesn't require a cancellation, but an employee is concerned for their health as a result of possible further exposure, they can only take time off in accordance to the contractual time off policy in the contact, risking termination if they exceed the number of allotted days.

And as the stagehand revealed on Twitter, the League doesn't feel the need to notify the public of any covid outbreaks unless a show is canceled. I was told that there have been several cases of Covid at Phantom and Company, yet there was no notice to anyone outside of those theaters.

Updated On: 12/17/21 at 02:26 AM

Miles2Go2 said: "

Thanks Adotburr. Guess I’ll just have to wait & see then. Btw, I know you said you had an Amtrak voucher that was expiring soon. I know a lot of airlines/hotels are extending benefits during Covid. Maybe Amtrak would too?"

I will definitely check it out! Amtrak is actually great about replacing vouchers if your trip was delayed or cancelled because of an Amtrak issue. One train engine broke and we sat for hours. I miss my show in NYC and got right on the next train at home. I wrote in and they gave a new round trip voucher because of the equipment issue. I’ll have to check out if they would issue a new voucher for covid reasons though. I might have to look at purchasing trip insurance.

Come From Away performed last night.

Dolly80 said: no one wants to sit in a packed theatre with this new variant spreading like wildfire.

..and yet that's exactly what they're doing.

I understand that everyone wants everything to be back to normal, and that livelihoods are heavily effected. That doesn't change how this virus spreads, nor its resilient ability to mutate.

Given that our population cannot agree re: vaccination, it is too soon to be reinstating operations in venues designed for larger gatherings of people. That includes sports, too.

“Why the hell would you notify the public if someone tested positive? Is any other industry doing that? Starbucks? Duane Reade? Restaurants or bars? No.”

Where do you live, exactly? Because I know it’s not New York.

Numerous restaurants, bars, shows, etc have communicated both directly to me and also via social media that they will temporarily be closed due to positive cases. I went to two Starbucks yesterday morning that were closed with signs on the door saying this. It’s called transparency and it’s also a part of contact tracing.


People would freak out MORE if they found out AFTER the fact they went somewhere that had an outbreak and they weren’t notified. This variant is spreading like wildfire here and NJ.

BJR said: "Why the hell would you notify the public if someone tested positive? Is any other industry doing that? Starbucks? Duane Reade? Restaurants or bars? No. It would tank business for little reason. At this point, it's all about risk mitigation, especially since this variant will have many, many breakthrough cases but vaccines are holding up and preventing most hospitalizations.

We aren't getting another gov't-supported shutdown. So, worst case scenario is shows cancelled, panic, ticket sales plummeting, and shows closing. In short, a death spiral."

Difference is those industries have people to replace others. It's much more difficult to replace cast/crew. Plus it's gives an absolute reason to shut down a performance.

I actually think it's better that they're being super transparent - it shows how seriously Broadway as an industry is working to take care of cast, crew and theatre goers.

We obviously need (and will soon see) updated protocols and procedures but let's keep our eyes on the ball. The primary concern is people who need to be unmasked and people in extended close contact. Testing is intended to satisfy epidemiologists, not a lot of the concerns being expressed here.

Dusoleilcanwhistle said: "A CHRISTMAS CAROL Cancels Performances At CTGLA Due To COVID-19

Just got the email from CTG that A Christmas Carol tomorrow in Los Angeles is cancelled. Happening everywhere now."

Hedwig in Olney, MD (the one starring Mason Alexander Park) was canceled last night as well:

https://twitter.com/OlneyTheatre/status/1471545998824644619

Radio city cancelled today Announcement shortly