James Corden Thinks Streaming Services Should Help Broadway Recover From the Pandemic

[DAME]

Posted: 8/25/20 at 6:02pm

https://variety.com/2020/tv/podcasts/james-corden-emmys-broadway-tonys-coronavirus-1234747311/?fbclid=IwAR1TBd1AOtzs7YOLT77xEsjStaxxUZHvPYEBVKM-6d25AithJeYZylYzAu4

“It’s genuinely keeping me up at night,” the 42-year-old late night talk show host and actor says. “I worry about the theater. I worry about the bounce-back that I hope it can have and when that can happen and how it can happen and if it can. It does play on my mind greatly. My entire career started with doing musicals in the West End or plays at the National Theatre that I was very fortunate that they would come to New York.”

Corden points out how Netflix donated $675,000 in July to a fund set up by Sam Mendes, the Society of London Theatre and U.K. Theatre for stage workers across the pond. He thinks more companies should follow their lead. “I do think it would be great if the companies that are in one respect benefiting from COVID — if you look at price shares [of] streamers and all those things — I think some acknowledgement of the volume of arts and artists that have come from that environment, I think it would be really in their best interests to try and support theater in that way, the Amazons and the Apples.”

 

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 8/26/20 at 10:51pm

I agree with what you said, or what he said. Somebody needs to keep theater alive or it’s just going to become something we talk about in the past as memories of the good old days!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/27/20 at 12:27am

I'm afraid my days of theatergoing have all but become memories despite my rather-young age. I just don't feel safe- and I likely never will again- around other people besides my close family. 

If all Broadway shows eventually become available as a pay-per-view option, I'm all for it; I don't want to get sick or spread germs to others.

I've got a feeling that Broadway will return, though, and that most people will be genuinely safe seeing a show by the end of the decade.

 

 

 

[ImaginaryManticore]

Posted: 8/27/20 at 7:09am

I was glad to see Netflix donating to the theatre fund, but it's going to take so much more than the occasional donation, even one of that size.

We're getting to a point when the theatre would be able to put on carefully planned productions, except there's no way of getting an audience safely and profitably. If a streaming company could use their platform to fund and stream productions (even in an empty theatre), it would at least provide some work for the industry and keep it going.

Netflix already tries to work with famous film directors and win awards, which probably is part of a strategy to boost its image and attract new talent as much as to earn money from the 'prestige' content itself. Couldn't it get the same benefit from supporting the theatre industry right now?

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/27/20 at 6:26pm

Jordan Levinson said: "I'm afraid my days of theatergoing have all but become memories despite my rather-young age.I just don't feel safe- and I likelynever will again- around other people besides my close family.

If all Broadway shows eventually become available as a pay-per-view option, I'm all for it; I don't want to get sick or spread germs to others.

I've got a feeling that Broadway will return, though, and that most people will be genuinely safe seeing a showby the end of the decade.

I will bet money that, assuming there really is a vaccine -- there never was one for AIDS or the common cold -- it will only be a matter of time before you break down and attend.  It will probably be because there is some actor or some production that you have always wanted to see live, but haven't.  Or some new play or musical by a person whose work you have previously loved.  The show will open, get good reviews, and you will eventually say 'what the hell'.

I do agree that -- and I am a lot older than you -- I will be more aware of every cough for some time to come, and that I will probably sit back a few short minutes to let the Mongolian hordes exit the theatre.  Hell, I may even bring a mask with me, just in case.  And some wipes.

My point: I think you will just need a catalyst to force the issue...'there has been a vaccine, I have gotten it, and there is a show that is going to break down my defenses.'


"

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/27/20 at 8:37pm

Jarethan said: "Jordan Levinson said: "I'm afraid my days of theatergoing have all but become memories despite my rather-young age.I just don't feel safe- and I likelynever will again- around other people besides my close family.

If all Broadway shows eventually become available as a pay-per-view option, I'm all for it; I don't want to get sick or spread germs to others.

I've got a feeling that Broadway will return, though, and that most people will be genuinely safe seeing a showby the end of the decade.

I will bet money that, assuming there really is a vaccine -- there never was one for AIDS or the common cold -- it will only be a matter of time before you break down and attend. Itwill probably be because there is some actor or some production that you have always wanted to see live, but haven't. Or some new play or musical by a person whose work you have previously loved. The show will open, get good reviews, and you will eventually say 'what the hell'.

I do agree that -- and I am a lot older than you -- I will be more aware of every cough for some time to come, and that I will probably sit back a few short minutes to let the Mongolian hordes exit the theatre. Hell, I may even bring a mask with me, just in case. And some wipes.

My point: I think you will just need a catalyst to force the issue...'there has been a vaccine, I have gotten it, and there is a show that is going to break down my defenses.'


"

"

It has now been over a year since I last saw a Broadway show live, and I believe it will probably take a Hamilton-esque phenomenon- a game changer- to be the driving force of my "what the heck" moment. No guarantee I will have said moment, however.

Please do avoid post-show mass exoduses by staying inside. That's one positive that used to come out of my conductor conversations.