On 6/9 Patti Said Company Won't Start In September

I found this interview to be a real downer. I was hoping Company and other shows would be back by next spring-March or April. Hopefully,Patti was just having a bad day. Quarantine will certainly do that.

Patti mentioned she was being told possibly January during WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE!, and this was info she was being told about 2 weeks into the shutdown. This September announcement was just an extension and never once implied that Broadway was opening up in September. As always, people read headlines as full articles so seeing the words BROADWAY and SEPTEMBER in a headline, they quickly assume that means Broadway is opening up in September.

fosterfan2 said: "I found this interview to be a real downer. I was hoping Company and other shows would be back by next spring-March or April. Hopefully,Patti was just having a bad day. Quarantine will certainly do that."

An interview with Patti LuPone that's a downer? You don't say * rolls eyes *

That's what keeps confusing me... "never once implied that Broadway was opening up in September" "this is really about offering refunds, and not at all to be used as goalpost for reopening"

Then why are so many shows still selling tickets for the following week? (not being combative, just trying to understand the thinking)

jpbran said: "That's what keeps confusing me... "never once implied that Broadway was opening up in September" "this is really about offering refunds, and not at all to be used asgoalpost for reopening"

Then why are so many shows stillselling tickets for the following week? (not being combative, just trying to understand the thinking)"

It could be for several reasons, including gauging if audience interest is still there for a show.  I think they also just don't know for sure when Broadway will reopen.  September is very tentative, and as optimistic as I try to be, I don't see it reopening until after a vaccine or definitive treatment is developed.  Allowing ticket sales ensures that they have some type of revenue potentially coming in and I believe if performances are forced to be cancelled due to the state not allowing the theatres to reopen, it impacts potential insurance payouts as well.

But also, I still very much believe that West End performances will resume in a few months so if that does happen it will be a very interesting test to see how that goes and what it could mean for us moving forward here. 

jpbran said: "Then why are so many shows still selling tickets for the following week? (not being combative, just trying to understand the thinking)"

Insurance. If they stop selling tickets for dates that have not yet been cancelled due to the government-mandated closure, whatever insurance they may be receiving (if any) would come to an end. 

Theatrefanboy1 said: "It wouldn’t surprise me if some of the long running shows maybe started up sooner say in September to test the new approaches and then slowly having others added. As well we know that most of the shows that were still in previews will likely have another 4-6 week rehearsals and tech runs. Before. So if phantom is selling now for December I’d say the rest would follow after that."

If the government tells them they can't open, then they can't open. At this point, once the all clear is given, it would probably be weeks before we see any performances. Aside from the technical and mechanical aspects decaying for months, and union demands demands for a safe-opening, there are other practical considerations, chief among them the availability of the various casts and crew. Certainly there are actors who would not be returning for various reasons, the number of which may affect a show's ability to reopen quickly. 

Until social distancing is relaxed or eliminated, Broadway is closed.

uncageg said: "I honestly think we will see theater come back earlier than predicted if there isn't a big Covid spike outside of the current ones. They are opening up states and if by, say, August everything is open except entertainment venues, they are going to almost be forced to let them open. People will already be out and about mingling and in groups. It may not happen but looking at the opening timelines I feel it could. Just my opinion."

As states reopen, the virus spikes, so...I don't expect Broadway to reopen soon. Certainly not by August or September. I can't see it until at least January. It's awful, but public safety obviously has to come first.

Jordan Catalano said: "Talking to a friend just a little while ago, I started to wonder, would NY try to do something to get shows running by the end of November for holiday tourists? The amount of money the city has already lost is deveststing so I’m just curious if they might try to make a push to get some tourism bucks for the holidays. "

What holiday tourists? You don't actually believe there will be much tourism this holiday season, do you?

Dollypop said: "I do think performing arts groups will try to be up and running by December. The NYC BALLET depends on 6 weeks of sold-out performances of THE NUTCRACKER for its revenue. The same is pretty much true for Radio City Music Hall and its CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. The New York Philharmonic needs the boost its sell-out performances of THE MESDIAH as well."

The NY Philharmonic has cancelled through January 5, 2021.  

If NYC Ballet cancels The Nutcracker, I wouldn't be shocked to see them add fan favorites like Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, etc in the winter and spring to make up for lost revenue.  The Met has done something similar, adding many performances of Boheme and Carmen in February.