Cuomo Announces NY PopsUp; Discusses Broadway's Reopening — Page 3

Hogan, I am here. I have seen it. Just guess you haven't. I have ushered in a number of theaters and I have noticed that even though some tourists can be a bit difficult, New Yorkers can get downright nasty. I was called the "N" word by a New Yorker for asking her to please put her shoes on and take her feet off of a railing. And people are people. There will be anti maskers both local and tourists. And I can hear them now "I have been vaccinated, I don't need a mask". I have several friends that do security at theaters and the stories they tell me..would blow your mind.

Jordan Catalano said: "I don’t think optimistic is a word ever used to describe me lol. But it’s strange since I follow the west end so closely and have so many tickets for things that have been pushed again and again and again for almost a year now and I still do have a very strong feeling I’ll be seeing shows there before I will here, and I think New York will learn a lot from however they'll be doing things across the pond.

And I do agree with you that around the anniversary of the shut down that they’ll have some sort of announcement or tentative plans for how to move forward for everyone."

I’m wondering if you or anyone knows how are some of these actors contracted to these shows during this shutdown period? I’m guessing that many may have agreed to other commitments going forward after completing their obligations to the stage productions that would have ended by now. I’m curious as to how many other projects they may have committed to and how can they be expected to stay attached to a show with no concrete start date? Many Tv shows and movies have already started back in safe environments. I’m thinking specifically to Hugh Jackman, SJP and others that certainly have options outside of theater.

"Starting Feb. 23, with approvals from state health officials, stadiums with a total capacity of more than 10,000 people will be able to operate at 10% capacity. Negative PCR tests will be required for visitors within 72 hours of an event, and there will be mandatory, socially-distanced seating. Masking, distancing and temperature checks will be required."

Not Broadway, but notable for sports games and other large events.

Amen, J. We did the work for damn near a year now. I'm so happy we are slowly opening back up.

so first out of the gate is a Nets game at Barclay, on the first day, the 23rd. You could have a concert there or at MSG for roughly 2k.

I haven’t seen this interview with Charlotte St. Martin posted here or on the rest of the board.

She seems to be projecting a late summer to fall reopening right now. Also striking is she mentioned testing and masks, but not vaccines. Granted this interview may have been before the recent projections of a “vaccine open season” by April and the purchase of enough vaccine for every American.

If we get to the magical “herd immunity” statistic of 70-75% vaccinated, or if we have to show we’ve been vaccinated to enter a theater, could they possibly reopen even without masking?

Updated On: 2/13/21 at 11:28 PM

Fosse76 said: "HogansHero said: "There is no answer regarding any individuals schedules and plans, but to answer your first question, all contracts are suspended and the employee has the right to cancel but the employer does not. So you can come back if you want but don't have to if you don't."

This would fall under the term "a gentleman's agreement," as it has no force oflaw. Contracts can only be modified in writing (even oral contracts), and since by now those contracts must certainly have expired, employers would not beable to force anyone to return. Similarly, though they issued a nice press release "suspending" the contracts, they aren't legally obligated to rehire anyone (outside of any conditions of renewal stated in the contracts, of course)."

First of all (although it's neither here nor there) of course a contract can be modified orally, unless there is a provision in the original precluding it. Such modifications happen daily. Likewise, no clue where you go the idea that an oral contract can only be modified in writing. That is not only wrong but also nonsensical. Second, there is in fact a suspension of the contracts here and it is based on a written contract. As we rehearsed here back a long time ago, that suspension (and its enforceability) is contractual to the original contract. The only interesting (albeit moot) question is whether, in the absence of a contract relieving the employee of the obligation to continue, such an obligation would be enforceable. I do not think it would be.

stoptheworld38 said: "If Fauci's prediction of anyone being able to get vaccinated by April actually ends up being true, I don't see a summer reopening too far-fetched. (Notice I say if, I obviously very much hope that will be the case, but will say at this point that time frame seems a bit optimistic). But if enough people do get it by then or soon after (including all Broadway performers/workers) I could see a rehearsal period starting as soon as early summer, with a mid-late summer reopening, for at least some shows. By the time shows are actually doing performances (say late summer), hopefully by then enough of the audience members will have been able to get the vaccine. Of course, there's the issue of people who refuse to get it (and whether or not theatres/ticket selling platforms will have a way to enforce vaccine status), but my guess is chances are, if a person is desperate enough to go back to live performances, they'll get vaccinated, unless they have a medical reason why they can't.

I do wonder though where they'll put theatre/arts workers in the vaccine rollout, and if there will be a designated category that includes those people ahead of the rest of the general public that hasn't already become eligible. Since singing (especially in groups) is one of the most high-risk activities and depending on the show performers are often in very close contact with each other, and can't realistically be wearing masks, at least not while they're performing onstage, I'm guessing they'll strive to have all Broadway workers vaccinated before reopening."

Let's keep things accurate. Fauci did not say what you say. He said that by April, everyone could be eligible but that it would still take several months before all eligibles could have a needle in their arm. So the Fauci timetable is actually about 3 months behind yours. Also, getting casts and crews vaccinated is not a priority right now because there will be no shows until audiences will be able to safely show up, and no producer is gonna start rehearsals on a "hopefully by then" theory. Broadway cannot reopen until we know that audiences can and will come. Finally, Broadway will not return meaningfully until we have herd immunity (which Fauci said could be as soon as end of summer but we likely will not know until it has happened.) So the Broadway timetable remains as it has been: late fall. One more thing: when we reach or get very close to herd immunity we stop worrying about those who are not vaccinated. We will be vaccinated and that's what matters. This will be in the rear view mirror soon enough, and we will be laughing at all of this fretting.

DeBlasio is turning the city into a dumpster. I really hope he doesn't get re-elected this year.

Your last comment reminded me of a co-worker I once had who didn't even know that presidents had term limits. Wonder if it's the same person? Kidding.

I always like your comments. You explain everything so clearly and to-the-point,especially during this pandemic.

Thanks. An additional point worth making re worrying: There have always been two channels involved, the public one and the private one. Public health-wise, the concern is how much of a strain the virus places on the system. This is why the state watches hospitalization rates first and foremost. Once there are not many people in the hospital, and the overall risk of infection is very low, that job is essentially done. If a few idiots remain at risk, that's their problem, not society's. Privately, our only concern is if we are immunized. If the person sitting next to you is not, you don't care, any more than you would have cared a year ago if they had received the whooping cough vaccine.