ILLINOISE Reviews- Page 8

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 4:49pm

60'splayoff said: "Just got an email that tonight's performance is cancelled due to a "tragedy within the community of Illinoise". Yikes, I hope everyone is ok."

Oh boy. That's a bizarre statement. Hopefully everyone is okay.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:05pm

Sadly,it sounds like someone has died. :(

[Hopelesslydevoted24]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:14pm

One of the FOH employees posted her condolences. I believe she’s an usher at the St. James. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:19pm

It's apparently a crew member that died suddenly earlier today. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:26pm

I’m seeing posts about the death of Sean Viator. He was a dancer who taught at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:29pm

Deadline: Broadway’s ‘Illinoise’ Cancels Performance Following Death Of Backstage Company Member

"Tonight’s performance of Broadway‘s Sufjan Stevens dance musical Illinoise has been canceled due to the death of a backstage company member.

The death did not occur at the St. James Theatre, where Illinoise is playing. The company member is not a performer and does not appear onstage, and has not been identified."

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:57pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I’m seeing posts about the death of Sean Viator. He was a dancer who taught at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center."

Sean passed last Friday. I imagine that his death is unrelated, though equally sad.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 7:00pm

It’s not Sean, this happened this morning and is awful. I was just at their big gala last night, such a terrible thing to happen.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 7:13pm

It was someone on the backstage team

[Kimbo]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 10:51pm

Honestly some of the ugliest things I’ve ever read on here (which, flame away, is truly saying something) or on any message board for that matter…

”I can’t believe how they handled this”

”What sacks of s**t”

”I guess I’ll cut them some slack”. 
 

They used the word TRAGEDY, for god’s sake, and not lightly. They’re talking about a sudden dramatic death of someone who was a part of their show’s family and some people are acting like they know better how the news should have been announced, how all the various parties involved should have been told, and in what order everything should be done. 
 

Tragedy doesn’t come with a PowerPoint, and death doesn’t come with a checklist. I don’t care if I get banned (though I can’t imagine why) and this is the final post I ever make here, but if everyone knew the circumstances (and I only know the general outline of it) I promise that even those of you who posted those things would be ashamed of yourselves. I hope that none of you ever have to deal with a sudden tragic loss, but if you ever do, and if you don’t handle everything the exact proper way that everyone else wants you to handle it (which is impossible), I hope they ‘cut you some slack’.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 11:05pm

Kimbo said: "Honestly some of the ugliest things I’ve ever read on here (which, flame away, is truly saying something) or on any message board for that matter…

”I can’t believe how they handled this”

”What sacks of s**t”

”I guess I’ll cut them some slack”.


They used the word TRAGEDY, for god’s sake, and not lightly. They’re talking about a sudden dramatic death of someone who was a part of their show’s family and some people are acting like they know better how the news should have been announced, how all the various parties involved should have been told, and in what order everythingshould be done.


Tragedy doesn’t come with a PowerPoint, and death doesn’t come with a checklist. I don’t care if I get banned (though I can’t imagine why) and thisis the final post I ever make here, but if everyone knew the circumstances (and I only know the general outline of it) I promise that even thoseof you who posted those things would be ashamed of yourselves. I hope that none of you ever have to deal with a sudden tragic loss, but if you ever do, and if you don’t handle everything the exact proper way that everyone else wants you to handle it (which is impossible), I hope they ‘cut you some slack’."

If you're going to call somebody out, at least you can quote them correctly. The second poster didn't say "I guess I’ll cut them some slack”. They said "I’ll cut them some slack." As in, they'll be less judgmental and more forgiving given the circumstances than the first poster, accepting that people are just doing the best they can...which seems to be the exact same thing you're calling for. So why are you dragging them into your fit?

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 11:22pm

They also misquoted "What a sack of ****" as "What sacks of s**t."

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 11:34pm

It appears it was Thomas Gates, their production stage manager, who passed away. Absolutely awful. Sara Bareilles just posted about his passing as he was the PSM for Waitress as well…

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 11:35pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "It appears it was Thomas Gates, their production stage manager, who passed away. Absolutely awful. Sara Bareilles just posted about his passing as he was the PSM for Waitress as well…"

Here’s Sara’s post - beautifully written and heartbreaking.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6u1DSpO76V/?igsh=MWgzdzlzMjNzZDljbA==

[qafgenius122]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 12:33am

He was apparently the person hit by a NJ transit train this morning. Which truly makes the circumstances all the more tragic.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 10:35am

MemorableUserName said: "If you're going to call somebody out, at least you can quote them correctly. The second poster didn't say "I guess I’ll cut them some slack”. They said "I’ll cutthem some slack." As in, they'll be less judgmental and more forgiving given the circumstances than the first poster, accepting that people are just doing the best they can...which seems to be the exact same thing you're calling for. So why are you dragging them into your fit?"

I thought the same thing. The comment from BroadwayAndSports was an entirely appropriate way to respond to the harsh tone of the earlier posters. That poster is owed an apology.

Updated On: 5/9/24 at 10:35 AM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 10:44am

The whole post was an overreaction, even with regard to the person who didn't like that they emailed ticket buyers before the cast meeting. I swear, it seems like some people are so quick to be offended that they don't even fully read what they're complaining about before posting.

Updated On: 5/9/24 at 10:44 AM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 11:59am

You’re being dense. It’s not about the email itself. It’s about saying it’s a tragedy while the cast is en route to the theater for all they know is “a meeting”. But whatever, call me crazy for wanting producers to practice a little basic human decency. “Due to unforeseen circumstances” was all that needed to be said. Instead Deadline picked up the story before the cast was even at the theater and informed.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 12:09pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "You’re being dense. It’s not about the email itself. It’s about saying it’s a tragedy while the cast is en route to the theater for all they know is “a meeting”. But whatever, call me crazy for wanting producers to practice a little basic human decency. “Due to unforeseen circumstances” was all that needed to be said. Instead Deadline picked up the story before the cast was even at the theater and informed."

Dude, I was defending you. Talk to Kimbo, since I was saying that they overreacted to both yours and BroadwayAndSports' posts.

 

Updated On: 5/9/24 at 12:09 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 12:24pm

That's awful.

Thomas Gates was the PSM on the entire original run of WAITRESS and its return engagement, and was also a PSM or SM on Newsies, Pippin, Hairspray, The Visit, High Fidelity, and Finian's Rainbow (among many others).

A Broadway PSM is often the glue keeping a company together. They're equal parts mother, HR, cheerleader, disciplinarian, and unofficial associate director. So to lose that person in the middle of a run is incredibly jarring for a show-family.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 12:29pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "You’re being dense. It’s not about the email itself. It’s about saying it’s a tragedy while the cast is en route to the theater for all they know is “a meeting”. But whatever, call me crazy for wanting producers to practice a little basic human decency. “Due to unforeseen circumstances” was all that needed to be said. Instead Deadline picked up the story before the cast was even at the theater and informed."

 

How do you know the cast wasn't told before ticket holders were reached out to? I'm sure the news spread like wild fire.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 2:14pm

It is being described as a "collision".  My condolences to his family and friends - this company must be devastated right now.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 2:44pm

Illinoise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6wYpiWtU_U

Playbill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbill/p/C6wcpGhPkJk/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 2:45pm

Playbill: Illinoise Production Stage Manager Thomas J. Gates Dies at 51

BWW: ILLINOISE Production Stage Manager Thomas J. Gates Passes Away at 51

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 2:47pm

NJ.com: N.J. Broadway veteran dead after being struck by train. Theater community mourns.