WICKED tour performances cancelled in New Orleans following collapse of building next door

Saw this on the news yesterday right after it happened. They never mentioned a theater next door.

Live in NOLA and had tickets to tonight's show. Sad I wont be able to go, but completely understand given the sad circumstances. Only thing, the whole area around the hotel and theatre is under mandatory evacuation, as officials think the building could still collapse. With that said, I doubt the city is even letting Wicked into the theatre to load out. Evacuation could go on for weeks it has been said. How will this affect the next tour stop. Is the first national set in storage somewhere and could be used?

Call_me_jorge said: "Do we know how the building collapsed? Surely there will be an investigation into this. People should not be dying in construction zones with the type of technology we have.

Regarding Wicked. Who pays for the cancelled performances? The venue/promoter or Wicked?"

I would GUESS that insurance kicks in for both the production as well as the rental house.

IAMREADING said: "NOLAguy said: "Live in NOLA and had tickets to tonight's show. Sad I wont be able to go, but completely understand given the sad circumstances. Only thing, the whole area around the hotel and theatre is under mandatory evacuation, as officials think the building could still collapse. With that said, I doubt the city is even letting Wicked into the theatre to load out. Evacuation could go on for weeks it has been said. How will this affect the next tour stop. Is the first national set in storage somewhere and could be used?"

yikes the set and costumes are inside already?"

Yes, the show was in the middle of its run when the hotel collapsed Saturday morning.

The Fox in Atlanta just emailed details for the lottery today. I guess that's a positive sign the hotel collapse won't affect the following stops.

Someone mentioned earlier that the old First National Tour set might be in storage. Not sure if it could realistically be mobilized on such short notice.

^It seems to have happened twice(?) to the Phantom tour in 1998!

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I found a 2018 article that confirms that the Wicked national tour does in fact have an advance set. However, this is mostly lighting, curtains and other flying scenery pieces.

That said, there is no reason to believe that they will be unable to load out the show and make the next engagement. The stage door is on the other side of the building on a different street, and there is a through alley were it looks like the loading doors are located, also closer to this street. Unless the alley is needed for recovery purposes/access or there is any structural damage to the theater which prohibits entry, there should be no major issues getting the show loaded out.

Fosse76 said: "I found a 2018 articlethat confirms that the Wicked national tour does in fact have an advance set. However, this is mostly lighting, curtains and other flying scenery pieces.

That said, there is no reason to believe that they will be unable to load out the show and make the next engagement. The stage door is on the other side of the building on a different street, and there is a through alley were it looks like the loading doors are located, also closer to this street. Unless the alley is needed for recovery purposes/access or there is any structural damage to the theater which prohibits entry, there should be no major issues getting the show loaded out."

I sure hope you are right. My only concern though is the mandatory evacuation around the hotel, which the entire theatre is in, which is expected to last weeks. The city is not allowing anybody who is not a rescue worker in the buildings in the evacuation zone. This is mainly due to the two cranes still standing, but leaning, that if they fall they will fall right on top of the Saenger.