B'way closed thru (at earliest) 1/3 now- Page 2

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 3:33pm

blaxx said: "ACL2006 said: "Was expected but sad nonetheless. I just really hope Broadway returns by the Spring. Just feels like a death sentence for Broadway if it doesn't attempt to return by the Spring."

Not looking pretty as of today. To the world, the US is the last place you want to put foot on and the optics keep getting worse. If Broadway thinks they can survive on local and (some) domestic tourism only. Otherwise, things just keep getting uglier.

At this pace, Spring if 2021 sounds naive."

There is no tourism, and most shows exhaust the local market after about 9 months (not that there isn't a local market after that,  just not one that would sustain the shows run). No one knows what the landscape will loom like when Broadway reopens. I think,  though, that it won't reopen until the virus is under control and public life is normalized. Supposedly the are some promising advancements,  but it will still be later rather than sooner.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 3:40pm

JSquared2 said: "BrodyFosse123 said:


Restaurants have started reopening in NYC. Limited seating inside and social distancing outdoor tables."

Wrong. Outdoor seating only now. Limited indoor seating at the earliest will start on July 6th, and may still be pushed back depending on this weeks stats. Cuomo will make a decisionby this Wednesday."

 

NYC and NJ have postponed indoor dining indefinitely. NJ was supposed to start indoor dining on Thursday at 25% capacity but it's been pushed back due to certain restaurants not obeying the guidlines.

[JuneJune]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 3:51pm

PutonyourWarPaint said: "So with this closure of all Broadway shows til next year, does this mean Beetlejuice can take back the Winter Garden until the other shows open?



I laughed so hard typing that."

No, no, you're on to something here. If Broadway opens in January but MM doesn't open until April, can Beetlejjice resume performances for January–March?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 3:55pm

ACL2006 said: "JSquared2 said: "BrodyFosse123 said:


Restaurants have started reopening in NYC. Limited seating inside and social distancing outdoor tables."

Wrong. Outdoor seating only now. Limited indoor seating at the earliest will start on July 6th, and may still be pushed back depending on this weeks stats. Cuomo will make a decision by this Wednesday."
 

Also incorrect.  No definitive decision yet for NYC.

https://nypost.com/2020/06/29/gov-cuomo-nyc-may-delay-indoor-dining-amid-coronavirus-resurgence/


NYCand NJ have postponed indoor dining indefinitely. NJ was supposed to start indoor dining on Thursday at 25% capacity but it's been pushed back due to certain restaurants not obeying the guidlines."

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 3:56pm

A few weeks back I read a comment that said "WE DEMAND A RECORDING OF BEETLE JUICE WITH THE ENTIRE ORIGINAL CAST. IT'S WHAT US FANS DESERVE."

That about sums up their fandom to me. Jesus. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 4:26pm

Totes expected by now, no surprises whatsoever. A spring/summer 2021 reopening could be in doubt already, but who knows.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 4:39pm

So there will be at least a 10 month gap between the existing shows shutting and reopening.

How are these shows going to get back up and running ? Will the original director, choreographer writer comeback and retrain everybody? Are they using this break to make any changes? Will there be recasting?

I can’t think of a precedent.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 4:50pm

You can’t think of a precedent because there is none. And nobody knows what’s going to shows in 8 months. Literally nobody.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 4:54pm

Sunny11 said: "How are these shows going to get back up and running ? Will the original director, choreographer writer comeback and retrain everybody? Are they using this break to make any changes? Will there be recasting?"

What do you mean by retraining? Rehearse? The performers know they need to keep up with their duties. For most long running ones it won't be hard. The shows that got it worst are the ones that were shut early and will likely have to go through the whole rehearsal process again. Costly in times of uncertainty.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 5:07pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Mr Roxy said: "How many restaurants will be able to last ? Times Square and the entire area around it will become will be a virtual disaster area.Things will be so bad people would flock to a Wildhorn show just to see live theater ."

Restaurants have started reopening in NYC. Limited seating inside and social distancing outdoor tables."

Of course viability runs out around some time in mid-October to early November, when those who want to be comfortable while they dine stop going for the next 5- 6 months.  The only solution that will lead to stability (at least as stable as the restaurant business ever has been) is a vaccine.

Updated On: 6/29/20 at 05:07 PM

[Sunny11]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 5:17pm

I was just thinking about Motown the musical and how it did a mini revival not that long after the original run closing. The show retooled for west end and the national tour and returned in the new format.

I was just looking for opportunity in this mess. Producers may “ unfreeze” these long running shows during the break and tinker with them.

[AnnieBlack]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 5:22pm

Interesting to note, that if you go on ticketmaster and look at Wicked, it actually has cancelled shows through February 28, 2021 (tickets avail March 1 and beyond)

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 5:31pm

JSquared2 said: "Also incorrect. No definitive decision yet for NYC.

https://nypost.com/2020/06/29/gov-cuomo-nyc-may-delay-indoor-dining-amid-coronavirus-resurgence/"

The linked article demonstrates several things we have been saying about nobody knowing anything. First, all phases are subject to change on short notice and will be massaged on an ongoing basis. Second, there is no way the state is going to allow health to be jeopardized. Third, those HEPA filter enhancements Cuomo is talking about for restaurants: not possible in many Broadway theatres that have systems that were considered modern when Ike was in Mamie. 

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 11:06pm

With this closure now official i could see a combined season in terms of the Tonys.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/29/20 at 11:19pm

Jarethan said: "Of course viability runs out around some time in mid-October to early November, when those who want to be comfortable while they dine stop going for the next 5- 6 months. The only solution that will lead to stability (at least as stable as the restaurant business ever has been) is a vaccine."

At some date, your first point is well taken, but the second one is not really. There are many ways to make restaurants safe enough for most people without a vaccine. And 3-4 months provides plenty of time for that. I have said this a bunch of times but we need to be looking at the world and not our navels. There was never a vaccine for SARS, and HK did just fine. And guess what? HK restaurants are up and running with Covid-19 because they know how to be safe in a smart way, something New York has shown it is more than capable of too, if we just keep our eye on the ball and don't let it hit us in the jaw. Having plenty of great places to eat is not our biggest challenge. 

 

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 12:25am

Agreed. A reopening obviously has to be within safe parameters, but I think (sadly) that there'll be a point where a comeback (sorry... return) will be SO delayed that the damage will take years and years for any true recovery

 

I work for a company that relies on tourist and large audiences--we have been told anywhere from 3-5 years until we recovery. The longer the lockdown; the longer the recovery. 

[AADA81]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 3:41am

I think even that date is wishful thinking.  Until there is a vaccine, a reliable system of treatment, and until a large swath of Americans understand that this virus isn't politically negotiable, there's not a chance in hell that NYC theaters can risk reopening.

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 8:31am

1. No Broadway means no touring Broadway shows as well, right? The ripple effects of this shutdown are also devastating to so many theatre districts nationwide, including restaurants who depend on the touring Broadway show weeks to survive.

2. Apologize for the ignorance of this question, but are all out-of-work Broadway actors, musicians, technicians, stage crew etc. on unemployment? If you're a member of a current show (HAMILTON, WICKED, MEAN GIRLS, etc.) are the shows still paying you your regular salary or are you laid off? 

3. How the heck do you pay NYC rent on the same unemployment check out-of-work New Yorkers get in Syracuse or Elmira or Utica?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 8:53am

Zamedy154 said: "1. No Broadway means no touring Broadway shows as well, right? The ripple effects of this shutdown are also devastating to so many theatre districts nationwide, including restaurants who depend on the touring Broadway show weeks to survive.

2. Apologize for the ignorance of this question, but are all out-of-work Broadway actors, musicians, technicians, stage crew etc. on unemployment? If you're a member of a current show (HAMILTON, WICKED, MEAN GIRLS, etc.) are the shows still paying you your regular salary or are you laid off?

3. How the heck do you pay NYC rent on the same unemployment check out-of-work New Yorkers get in Syracuse or Elmira or Utica?"


To answer your second question, no, actors/crew/etc are not being paid during the shutdown. No ticket sales means no money to pay them with. Many people in the industry have filed for unemployment, but of course that’s a personal matter.

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 9:03am

Zamedy154 said: "1. No Broadway means no touring Broadway shows as well, right? The ripple effects of this shutdown are also devastating to so many theatre districts nationwide, including restaurants who depend on the touring Broadway show weeks to survive.

2. Apologize for the ignorance of this question, but are all out-of-work Broadway actors, musicians, technicians, stage crew etc. on unemployment? If you're a member of a current show (HAMILTON, WICKED, MEAN GIRLS, etc.) are the shows still paying you your regular salary or are you laid off?

3. How the heck do you pay NYC rent on the same unemployment check out-of-work New Yorkers get in Syracuse or Elmira or Utica?"

The amount of money one can receive on unemployment is based on your individual earnings for the past 18 months - the maximum is $504 per week, but with the extra $600 of federal pandemic unemployment assistance (which is currently set to expire July 31), that brings it to $1,104 maximum. A lot of people have been able to pay rent and stay afloat because of the $600 boost. Once that ends, the future is very uncertain. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 9:53am

ElphabaGoodman said: "Zamedy154 said: "1. No Broadway means no touring Broadway shows as well, right? The ripple effects of this shutdown are also devastating to so many theatre districts nationwide, including restaurants who depend on the touring Broadway show weeks to survive.

2. Apologize for the ignorance of this question, but are all out-of-work Broadway actors, musicians, technicians, stage crew etc. on unemployment? If you're a member of a current show (HAMILTON, WICKED, MEAN GIRLS, etc.) are the shows still paying you your regular salary or are you laid off?

3. How the heck do you pay NYC rent on the same unemployment check out-of-work New Yorkers get in Syracuse or Elmira or Utica?"

The amount of money one can receive on unemploymentis based on your individual earnings for the past 18 months - the maximum is $504 per week, but with the extra $600 of federal pandemic unemployment assistance (which is currently set to expire July 31), that brings it to $1,104 maximum. A lot of people have been able to pay rent and stay afloat because of the $600 boost. Once that ends, the future is very uncertain."

The loss of that $600.00 will be even harder if you are having taxes taken out. I decided to have them taken out since I wasn't going anywhere or spending extra money.

 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 10:24am

Zamedy154 said: "1. No Broadway means no touring Broadway shows as well, right? The ripple effects of this shutdown are also devastating to so many theatre districts nationwide, including restaurants who depend on the touring Broadway show weeks to survive.

2. Apologize for the ignorance of this question, but are all out-of-work Broadway actors, musicians, technicians, stage crew etc. on unemployment? If you're a member of a current show (HAMILTON, WICKED, MEAN GIRLS, etc.) are the shows still paying you your regular salary or are you laid off?

3. How the heck do you pay NYC rent on the same unemployment check out-of-work New Yorkers get in Syracuse or Elmira or Utica?"

To answer your first question, not necessarily.  A lot of tours are still planning to resume in the fall at this point, but it obviously depends on what markets they're scheduled to play, if they need to be in NY for rehearsals first, where their cast members are currently located, etc.  Some regional theatres in lower-affected areas are starting to gradually reopen and some of their touring houses still have performances scheduled for the fall.

Now, the big question will be whether it's financially feasible for the tours to continue (will it just be one stop in a low-risk area and then they have to shut down for 6 weeks or will they be able to string together 4 months of stops and be okay?)  So I think it's doubtful we'll see a lot of tours before January, but it's no sure thing yet.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 10:42am

Touring is just as risky as opening Broadway, perhaps even more so. Any touring companies that are claiming they’ll have fall schedules are either delusional or just trying to get press attention.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 11:20am

@Broadway61004 where are these "low-risk areas" of which you speak? Broadway is in the lowest risk area (that has theatres of any relevance to this discussion) and the reason you will not see shows here before Spring (at the earliest and most likely later) is why it has that distinction. Many of these states are not even where the Northeast was in March yet. As the govt experts are saying, we are only just getting started with this virus. Sad and unnecessary but true.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/30/20 at 11:23am

2021 may be out of the cards already. A new strain of swine flu has just been discovered in Chinese pigs- which can easily spread to humans- and could eventually become our second global pandemic at the same time.

I am now optimistic about a 2022-23 return at the earliest.

 

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/new-strain-of-flu-found-in-china-has-potential-to-become-pandemic-scientists-warn/2492076/

Updated On: 6/30/20 at 11:23 AM