AMERICAN BUFFALO will require masks through July 10 closing

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/24/22 at 1:48pm

https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/american-buffalo-on-broadway-will-require-audience_93964.html

Producers of David Mamet's American Buffalo have announced that the production will require audience masking in the Circle in the Square Theatre for the remainder of its run, despite the Broadway League's new "mask optional" policy beginning July 1.

The decision is due to the close proximity of the audience to the actors as a result of the intimate theater size and in-the-round staging. American Buffalo will close as planned on July 10.

Directed by Neil Pepe, American Buffalo stars Laurence Fishburne (Donny), Sam Rockwell (Teach), and Darren Criss (Bobby) all returning. The creative team includes Scott Pask (set design), Dede Ayite (costume design), and Tyler Micoleau (lighting design).

Updated On: 6/24/22 at 01:48 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/24/22 at 2:02pm

Good for them. I'm sure the actors spoke up about their discomfort. However, they are all wealthy celebrities. I hope that an ensemble member in a random company will feel comfortable speaking up as well. The non masking thing is scaring many actors. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/24/22 at 3:12pm

Considering any COVID cases will torpedo their last week of sales, when they are most prone to seeing a bump due to the holiday and the last-chance holdouts, this is just as easily a savvy business decision as it is a health one and I applaud the shrewdness of it.

Having seen it twice and having Sam Rockwell almost fall on my lap the first time, I can definitely agree that this space is not the space to be haphazard.

That being said, I’m wondering how this is going to be implemented, and also what other shows will follow suit here

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/24/22 at 3:18pm

All shows should follow suit if they know what’s best for them. 
COVID is still around, and monkeypox is a looming threat. Both diseases are airborne in some way. 

 

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 6/24/22 at 3:26pm

Interesting to see this news right after reading this from Sam Rockwell in a NYTimes article:

Sam Rockwell, who is starring in “American Buffalo” at Circle in the Square, is one of several actors I spoke with who is unnerved by the change in policy. “We’re doing theater in the round,” he told me. “The other day I had a guy cough four feet in front of me.” He and the rest of the cast and crew test constantly. “We test in order to have the privilege to take the mask off. We earn the privilege to take the mask off and spit saliva on the stage,” he said. “I don’t know if it occurs to the audience that they’re protecting the actors onstage. If someone is mad because they have to wear a mask, they have to know that we are testing everyday.”

Good for him and whoever else made this possible.

Sutton Ross said: "However, they are all wealthy celebrities. I hope that an ensemble member in a random company will feel comfortable speaking up as well. The non masking thing is scaring many actors."

The same articles echoes this same sentiment, but as a call to action for audience members to wear masks:

“While it might be hard for the public to feel sympathetic toward actors, who seem in every way swimming in privilege, most who appear on the New York stage do not make up the ranks of the wealthy and well known. At the same time, according to the League’s own demographic study three years ago, the average annual household income of the Broadway theatergoer is $261,000. If you don’t want to wear a mask for Hugh Jackman, you might want to do it for the actor in the chorus who is making a lot less than that — the one with two lines, who is headed to bed early to teach a barre class at Equinox the next morning.”

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/24/22 at 3:31pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "All shows should follow suit if they know what’s best for them. COVID is still around, and monkeypox is a looming threat. Both diseases are airborne in some way."

I agree completely, but a lot of producers out there feel that masks are hurting ticket sales for the tourist population. I think it will ultimately be a negligible change in grosses for the vast majority of shows. And some shows may learn the hard way if cases spike amongst those working in the theatre.

This NYT piece doesn't have much, but I'm reading between the lines that Rockwell & his costars probably said "we need the audience to be masked" and Jeffrey Richards & co. obliged.

Will be interesting to see what KPOP does come October.

Updated On: 6/24/22 at 03:31 PM