Can Broadway Negotiate a Return Plan

[GhostXmasPast]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 12:19pm

Based on all we know, the economics of Broadway are fundamentally incompatible with a socially distanced phase in for reopening of crowded venues. For instance, a 50% reduction in capacity might be somewhat feasible for a cinema, (Where each presentation of the same film has a lower cost) however it would be an insurmountable challenge for live theater, where each performance incurs a high fixed AND variable cost. For many productions the slow melt of capital reserves while closed would be preferable to the flood of losses if reopened under unsustainable conditions.

And yet - as unemployment benefits and other support begins to dry up, staying closed imposes a massive cost on the individuals involved.

Is there any hope that producers, theater owners and unions can forge a broad agreement to support a phased in reopening - when timing is appropriate? Obviously, any returns of capital would be cancelled, producers could sacrifice on their fees, general managers likewise. Writers, composers, all would need to sacrifice some. If unions and talent would adjust their compensation, and theater owners do the same - all with a negotiated formula directly tied to govt. imposed capacity limits - is there a possibility that this industry could begin to reopen? (again - when appropriate) Would reduced earnings for a period of time be preferable to no earnings, and a likely series of closings by default as marginal productions run dry?

Have there been any discussions along these lines? Would the parties involved be able to trust each other?

Is there a better option? Government intervention?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 12:39pm

Employment benefits are drying up? Nope. People who are out of work from this get a total of 39 weeks of benefits. That's a long time.

There is no negotiation on people's safety, there is no "deal". Theater is in phase 4 of Cuomo's plan. We have not even reached phase 1, where 7 criteria needs to be met, phase by phase. When it's met, and we no longer social distance, theater will be back. So, next year at the earliest. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 12:40pm

You may want to do a search before starting a thread. This is being discussed in a few threads here.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 12:59pm

The only way there could be a return to Broadway before theatres can play at full capacity again is if all the unions agree to temporarily accept a reduction in wages.  The only way that would possibly happen is if their members get so fed up with being out of work that they pressure them to accept a reduced salary to get shows back up and running.  It's extremely unlikely that will happen, but I suppose is technically possible.  But otherwise, no, there is no logic behind producers bringing back Broadway shows until we can completely relax social distancing as it would be near impossible for any show to make a profit, short of only selling 30% of the house but at extreme premium prices (which could theoretically work for a still high in demand show like Hamilton, but seems incredibly unlikely).

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 2:30pm

And there will need to be enough people who are willing to purchase tickets, travel to Times Square, probably wear face masks while in the theatre.  This is going to be a tragically long, uphill battle, I fear.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 2:51pm

GhostXmasPast said: "Based on all we know, the economics of Broadway are fundamentally incompatible with a socially distanced phase in for reopening of crowded venues. For instance, a 50% reduction in capacity might be somewhat feasible for a cinema, (Where each presentation of the same film has a lower cost) however it would be an insurmountable challenge for live theater, where each performance incurs a high fixed AND variable cost. For many productions the slow melt of capital reserves while closed would be preferable to the flood of losses if reopened under unsustainable conditions.

And yet - as unemployment benefits and other support begins to dry up, staying closed imposes a massive cost on the individuals involved.

Is there any hope that producers, theater owners and unions can forge a broad agreement to support a phased in reopening - when timing is appropriate? Obviously, any returns of capital would be cancelled, producers could sacrifice on their fees, general managers likewise. Writers, composers, all would need to sacrifice some. If unions and talent would adjust their compensation, and theater owners do the same - all with a negotiated formula directly tied to govt. imposed capacity limits - is there a possibility that this industry could begin to reopen? (again - when appropriate) Would reduced earnings for a period of time be preferable to no earnings, and a likely series of closings by default as marginal productions run dry?

Have there been any discussions along these lines? Would the parties involved be able to trust each other?

Is there a better option? Government intervention?"

 

HUH...I think you missed the point -WHY BWAY is closed...COVID19. BWAY will reopen once it subsides and levels off and that we will be phase 4 hopefully by Labor Day if not early next year and believe by then masks will be required...BWAY houses won't be back filled again till we have a vaccine no earlier. Tourists won't be back till then as well!

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 3:29pm

It will all depend on phases and if theaters meet cdc regulations which will be examined. My guess is sometime next year.

[JennH]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 3:35pm

Sutton Ross said: "Employment benefits are drying up? Nope. People who are out of work from this get a total of 39 weeks of benefits. That's a long time.

There is no negotiation on people's safety, there is no "deal". Theater is in phase 4 of Cuomo's plan. We have not even reached phase 1, where 7 criteria needs to be met, phase by phase. When it's met, and we no longer social distance, theater will be back. So, next year at the earliest."

I think what's meant is unemployment money running out. Yes we're technically guaranteed that amount of weeks, but where do you think that money is coming from? The air? While the relief package bill was necessary, all it did was print money and we all know what that leads to....hyperinflation. With this many people on U.I. you really DON'T think it's possible that unemployment reserves could run out? When it does and so many people still have their legal weeks left to collect, where is that money going to come from? That is a problem that needs addressing. Lives are more important than money, but waking up to a collapsed dollar that you can't do anything with, therefore causing massive scale starvation isn't something I want to think about either. Disease AND economic collapses cause death. One is just slower than the other. BTW, I DO NOT agree with a 100%, or near it, reopening GA style...THAT is asking for hospitalization/death rate spike. But a lockdown/pause for 6 months is also asking for that aforementioned total economic collapse. The US dropped the ball in it's response, anyone with half a brain knows this, so reopening in phases with very cautious safety precautions seems to be the only way to find any balance between science and economics right now. 

Updated On: 5/6/20 at 03:35 PM

[JennH]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 3:41pm

Robbie2 said: 

HUH...I think you missed the point -WHY BWAY is closed...COVID19. BWAY will reopen once it subsides and levels off and that we will be phase 4 hopefully by Labor Day if not early next year and believe by then masks will be required...BWAY houses won't be back filled again till we have a vaccine no earlier. Tourists won't be back till then as well!"

If people keep flooding our parks...kiss a reopening any time this year goodbye. This is NYC, I thought we were better than this, I keep getting angry at the crowds that infiltrated the parks this past weekend. 

 

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 4:51pm

Obviously this does not apply to Broadway or any venue req live large audiences BUT some very intersting thought on Film/TV/Streaming production

https://medium.com/@RichardJanes/prepare-for-the-death-rebirth-of-hollywood-f3853aacbee0

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 5:09pm

JennH said: "Robbie2 said:

HUH...I think you missed the point -WHY BWAY is closed...COVID19. BWAY will reopen once it subsides and levels off and that we will be phase 4 hopefully by Labor Day if not early next year and believe by then masks will be required...BWAY houses won't be back filled again till we have a vaccine no earlier. Tourists won't be back till then as well!"

If people keep flooding our parks...kiss a reopening any time this year goodbye. This is NYC, I thought we were better than this, I keep getting angryat the crowds that infiltrated the parks this past weekend.

Personally, I don't want any new Broadway shows to open before fall 2021. If it ends up happening, next year will be the 75th annual Tony ceremony, and instead of promoting newer shows and giving out awards (most of which were guaranteed to be crappy anyway), CBS can get some A-listers to say some words/deliver heartfelt speeches about the power of live theatre and personal theatrical anecdotes, while others sing some Broadway classics. A large gathering of theatre legends, movie stars, television personalities, and recording artists would surely make for good TV ratings.

This was brought up in a Post article today, and I think it is the perfect way to commemorate 1) a grand reopening of Broadway and live events in NYC, and 2) another Tony milestone.

So what do you think? Should we reopen this way next summer if possible?

 

Updated On: 5/6/20 at 05:09 PM

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 5:25pm

Jordan Levinson said: "JennH said: "Robbie2 said:

HUH...I think you missed the point -WHY BWAY is closed...COVID19. BWAY will reopen once it subsides and levels off and that we will be phase 4 hopefully by Labor Day if not early next year and believe by then masks will be required...BWAY houses won't be back filled again till we have a vaccine no earlier. Tourists won't be back till then as well!"

If people keep flooding our parks...kiss a reopening any time this year goodbye. This is NYC, I thought we were better than this, I keep getting angryat the crowds that infiltrated the parks this past weekend.

Personally, I don't want any new Broadway shows to openbefore fall 2021. If it ends up happening, next year will be the 75th annualTonyceremony, and instead of promoting newer shows and giving out awards (most of which were guaranteed to be crappy anyway), CBS can get some A-listers to say some words/deliver heartfelt speeches about the power of live theatre and personal theatrical anecdotes, while others sing some Broadway classics. A large gatheringof theatre legends, movie stars,television personalities, and recording artists would surely make for good TV ratings.

This was brought up in a Post article today, and I think it is the perfect way to commemorate 1) a grand reopening of Broadway and live events in NYC, and 2) another Tony milestone.

So what do you think? Should we reopen this way next summer if possible?

"

So you're saying we should remain closed and keep people out of work for more than another year just for the sake of an awards ceremony?  If Broadway needs to remain closed because of safety reasons, then so be it.  But to say Broadway should remain shut down just to make sure only good shows are up for the Tony awards?  No, most definitely not.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 5:33pm

It won't be an awards ceremony, it will instead be a formal celebration of live theatre's staying power. I think there's a 50-50 shot this happens next June. It probably won't be safe to open new shows before then.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 5:34pm

The Post article is sourced from people who do not have a seat at the table. There is no appetite for what you are describing among those who would have to pay for it. (FWIW I also don't think this is a Fall '21 start but as I have said repeatedly, no one knows. But it seems clear to me that if there is no Broadway until fall '21, there is not going to be anything to celebrate.) 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 5:55pm

Sutton Ross said: "Employment benefits are drying up? Nope. People who are out of work from this get a total of 39 weeks of benefits. That's a long time.

There is no negotiation on people's safety, there is no "deal". Theater is in phase 4 of Cuomo's plan. We have not even reached phase 1, where 7 criteria needs to be met, phase by phase. When it's met, and we no longer social distance, theater will be back. So, next year at the earliest."

 

In NJ, my brother had to file when NJ shutdown and was told he'll get 6 months(~27 weeks). I do wonder what artists & entertainers in this field will do if they can't work until 2021. Their secondary jobs also aren't available to fall back on. It's a scary thought and I would hope there's another stimulus plan being worked out.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 6:03pm

Jordan Levinson said: "It won't be an awards ceremony, it will instead be a formal celebration of live theatre's staying power. I think there's a 50-50 shot this happens next June. It probably won't be safe to open new shows before then."

If it's not safe to open before then, then that's one thing (which may in fact be accurate).  But if it is in fact possible to open before then, even if it's a bunch of shows that aren't exactly critical darlings, there is absolutely no reason we should push them back just to preserve the prestige of the 75 annual Tony awards.  If it's safe for shows to open, they should open.  If it's not safe for them to open, then they shouldn't open.  But if the only thing preventing them from opening is making sure an awards show has good shows to choose from?  Why would we even consider pushing shows back, putting thousands of people out of work longer and lengthening the time people are without entertainment, just because of an awards ceremony?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 6:18pm

It doesn't have to happen in June, for what it's worth. Whenever it is safe/safe enough to reopen shows, this mega-celebration of sorts will happen first, ushering in future productions. We will welcome back this longstanding art form in grand fashion and with open arms, then get down to business.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 6:34pm

Jordan Levinson said: "It doesn't have to happen in June, for what it's worth. Whenever it is safe/safe enough to reopen shows, this mega-celebration of sorts will happen first, ushering in future productions. We will welcome back this longstanding art form in grand fashion and with open arms, then get down to business."

Are you paying for this?

[SeanD2]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 6:34pm

This article about a concert venue’s plans perfectly illustrates why we’re are still a long long way from even thinking about broadway reopening. They’re reducing capacity from 1,100 to 289, and only selling specific blocks of tickets and you must purchase an entire block. No singles, only doubles are in accessible seating. Most people will have to purchase 6-13 tickets as a group.

No Broadway show can survive at 20% capacity and no actor wants to play to a house that empty.

2020 isn’t happening. Spring 2021 if we’re lucky.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/covid-19-concerts-fan-pods/

[Tag]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 6:40pm

Jordan Levinson said: "It doesn't have to happen in June, for what it's worth. Whenever it is safe/safe enough to reopen shows, this mega-celebration of sorts will happen first, ushering in future productions. We will welcome back this longstanding art form in grand fashion and with open arms, then get down to business."

HogansHero said: "Are you paying for this?"

CBS will

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 6:44pm

Tag said: "Jordan Levinson said: "It doesn't have to happen in June, for what it's worth. Whenever it is safe/safe enough to reopen shows, this mega-celebration of sorts will happen first, ushering in future productions. We will welcome back this longstanding art form in grand fashion and with open arms, then get down to business."

HogansHero said: "Are you paying for this?"

CBS will "

Only if cruise ship Hairspray gets to be a part of it. And the designers only get to speak during commercial breaks.