The Flu: Starring on Broadway

[ARTc]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 2:26pm

On three occasions this month I have arrived at the theater only to exchange my tickets because the lead(s) - and often many other cast members - are out due to illness.

I am a huge Chita Rivera fan and have tried to see The Mystery of Edwin Drood twice, both times she's been out. The box office staff has been amazing. I also had tickets to Once, only to find that 5 cast members were out.

Just want to wish every who's out sick a speedy recovery.



Updated On: 1/19/13 at 02:26 PM

[theaternut]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 2:36pm

So we went to see the Cirque Du Solei show "Iris" this past Tuesday night. Show is sold out since it is closing this weekend. We sit down and the girl behind us is sick. She is coughing and sneezing and says loudly " I am so sick". I turned to her and said.. well we don't want to get sick. you should go home. Her firend says " we are not moving." Guy behind them says something to the effect off... You shouldn't be here and you should leave.. everyone else around here will get sick because of you. Not sure what happened but she did leave. We were looking for seats to move too and there were not any. I wonder what goes thru peoples mind when they are being so selfish.

Updated On: 1/19/13 at 02:36 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 2:58pm

Yeah, I think it's a bit much to charge hundreds of dollars for people to get to an event, for their to be NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES, and expect sick people to try not to make it through the show. Like, say you bought two premium seats for Book of Mormon...

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 3:49pm

Well, If I"m that sick, that I have to try and make it through the show, then I'm not going to feel well enough to go in the first place. The money I spent will not be first priority. There's no way I'm going to enjoy a show, or anything for that matter if I feel that bad. The hell with the money, I'm staying in bed!

[jv92]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 5:33pm

Chita's been out? That's interesting. She must have been quite ill.

Wishing all inflicted with the flu a quick recovery!

[Kelly2]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 5:37pm

Chita has been out for over a week, she was back on Thursday night but I noticed walking by the theatre that she is out again today.

I hope she's alright and will return soon.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 6:19pm

I can't say that I'm surprised this flu has taken Chita out of the show. At her age the complications that can arise from the flu and its symptoms can be very serious, and the strains that are going around this year seem to be particularly nasty from most accounts.

A speedy recovery to Ms. Rivera, and all others who have been hit hard by the flu this season.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/19/13 at 6:32pm

"The hell with the money ..."

Not everybody can say that. Not everybody has the same physical and financial resources. People convince themselves they're well enough to attend can't-miss events like weddings all the time.

[AAO26]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:43am

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Chita+Rivera/Latino+Inaugural+2013+Performance+Kennedy/9XSUTz1dE_t

[AAO26]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:47am

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Chita+Rivera/Latino+Inaugural+2013+Performance+Kennedy/9XSUTz1dE_t


Updated On: 1/21/13 at 01:47 AM

[ARTc]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 9:47am

I am extremely pleased to see that she's up and working. I knew of this commitment, because when I tried to exchange my tickets the box office told me that she had a scheduled vacation for this and also another event.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 10:01am

Yes, her absence for the event was planned :) Hopefully she'll be back and good as new this week!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 10:05am

I thought this was gonna be a parody about the proposed movie Tina Fey said Meryl Streep was currently starring in, to explain her absence from the Golden Globes.

[CenterOrchestra]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:13am

I had the flu the night I had Premium Seating for Annie. Regarding the NO RETURNS NO EXCHANGES - it's not quite true. Although they don't don't quite tell you that.

My husband called to see if they would do anything with the tix for us because I had the flu and didn't want to get EVERYONE sick. We really just called as a check before we gave the tickets away.

BUT they told us to not give the tickets away. That because we had scannable tickets - they would KNOW we didn't use them. And that all we had to do was to call any other night we wanted to see the show and they would give us the best available seats for that performance.

We did that and saw it last week with new premium seats. They should let people know about that policy - so that people didn't feel like they HAD to go to the theatre even though they are sick.

[ARTc]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:19am

Interesting thought... perhaps a part of Premium Seats can be this option - just advertised as a part of the additional expense. I think more people would be so upset spending upwards of $200+ to purchase premium seats if it can with an "illness" clause. Just a thought.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:22am

"BUT they told us to not give the tickets away. That because we had scannable tickets - they would KNOW we didn't use them. And that all we had to do was to call any other night we wanted to see the show and they would give us the best available seats for that performance."

I wonder how that would work with a Book of Mormon or a limited run starring the week's hugest movie star?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:36am

Anyone who buys a ticket has the option to past-date a ticket, it's just a question of when and how they can past-date.

I'm sure because these folks bought premium seats, the theatre is more willing to get them in easier. But note they said "best available." That doesn't mean they're going to get Premium Seats again. It always depends on availability and if they they think they can spare those tickets. (If they had Book of Mormon, I'm sure they can past-date, but in 2016, when they can spare the tickets.)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:41am

And so to me these seem to be reasons a sick person would push to get themselves through the show on the date for which they have tickets..

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:10pm

"The hell with the money ..."

Not everybody can say that. Not everybody has the same physical and financial resources. People convince themselves they're well enough to attend can't-miss events like weddings all the time.

That wasn't exactly the point. Not at all, really.

First of all, I am not a person with means. (whatever that means) I don't have money to throw away. I worked my entire life and whatever I have was earned. I get by.

I have spent money that I could barely afford, maybe splurged on, and had to forfeit it because of situations beyond my control, and due to illness.

My point is this- if I am ill, I'd rather take care of myself than go to an event just to suffer through it because I paid for it. It's everyone's prerogative to drag themselves out of bed and suffer because they spent money, or stay in bed. We all have our preferences.

There may be wealthy people on board here, Namo, but I am not one of them. thank you.

Edited to add- Namo - I also think it's not the wisest idea to drag yourself out of a sick bed to brave the elements, stand in close contact among others, possibly spreading whatever you have, wishing you were back in bed while sweat drips down your face and other aches and pains which make you sorry you came to the event.

You may place the most importance on the fact that you spent money, but I don't.

Updated On: 1/21/13 at 12:10 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:28pm

I'm not saying I would ever do it or saying that I have ever done it. I'm just thinking of this woman who worked in a different department at my old employer who earned a much lower salary than my low salary and how she had saved up money and waited six months to see a Bon Jovi concert and how the morning of the show she sounded like Lauren Bacall with a sore throat after smoking a carton of cigarettes. She was DETERMINED to go to that show. She had waited what felt like forever. And she dragged herself, because, you know, there was no alternative for her.

I am just trying to understand how somebody might come to behave in ways that are different than what you or I may do. I am trying to have what they call empathy for people who might make different decisions than me.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:42pm

Please. Of course I have empathy that your friend felt ill for the concert.

Just like I had empathy for my friend who was performing a one woman show for industry people that she had worked on for years, and was pretty sick on that very night.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:56pm

I wasn't saying you weren't, I was saying I was trying to have empathy in a situation that seems pretty cut and dried. "If you're sick stay home." It's not always that easy.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:19pm

I believe the policy that CenterOrchestra is speaking of is available for most shows. They just don't make it publicly known. You have to contact the Box Office and if you go in person they give you a sheet of paper with instructions for seeing the show on another day. Ive done it a few times. They even do this at Wicked and that time all I had was a rear mezz seat so it's not a premium exclusive. I've never actually had a premium seat and done this. I didn't know it was an option either until I asked.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:49pm

"I wasn't saying you weren't, I was saying I was trying to have empathy in a situation that seems pretty cut and dried. "If you're sick stay home." It's not always that easy."

Oh boy. I don't remember ever having so much trouble getting my point across to you Namo. You either don't get what I'm saying here or you choose not to.

I thought I made it clear more than once that it's a matter of choice. Some people choose to go to the event sick, other don't. I never said "if you're sick stay home." I said that's what I would do.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 2:00pm

I'd like to make this post as additional info on this issue. As Namo said, "if you're sick, stay home."

Let's get real clear, lol. I'm only talking about leisure time activities that I spent money on, or other events in which your attendance is not mandatory. I thought that was what we were talking about.

For instance, when I was teaching, yes, I dragged myself to work no matter what. I'm conscientious about my job and I am expected to show up. I showed up when I had such bad cramps that I had to go to the hospital with stenosis of the cervix. The pain was equal to labor pains, I was told.

I showed up after staying up all night from acting in a night shoot. My responsibility was with my job, and I showed up with no sleep.

I'm just using these instances to make a point!