Industry Pro Newsletter: Safety Plans and Variant Related Hesitations

August 2, 2021 -

With Pass Over moving into their space, another big step was taken on the Road to Reopening for Broadway in particular - along with the announcement of safety plans and procedures from the League and Unions. As the calendar gets closer to scheduled reopening, many are keeping an eye on the Delta variant, and working to ensure that reopenings across the globe are able to move forward in a way that keeps all involved - audience members, production staff, cast, and crew - safe.

The Social Report

The leaderboard remains mostly unchanged from last week following a quieter news cycle. Last night Moulin Rouge teased upcoming news on their social media earning 358 comments and over 15,000 likes across all their social media.

Broadway Safety Plans Come Into Focus

Over the weekend, Pass Over moved into the August Wilson ahead of their opening later this month, and the Broadway League announced numerous provisions of their safety plan. First, they co-announced a plan with Actors Equity Association requiring vaccines for the workforce, along with weekly testing. These rules will cover all Broadway and sit-down productions across the country. Then, the League announced that all 41 Broadway theatres will require proof of vaccination to enter as an audience member. The policy is currently set to apply to all shows through the end of October, with a planned review of the policy and the pandemic situation in September. For a deeper dive into how these policies are coming into practice, check out this piece by Peter Marks in the Washington Post.

Theatre Leadership Project Announces Program for Company Managers

Unlike previously announced programs from TLP, this program will target company managers currently working on Broadway - offering them opportunities to expand their skill set along with provisions to help them bridge the gap between productions.

AEA Open Access - An Explainer

Last week, we covered the news of Actors Equity Associations new Open Access policy for membership. While the plan has been widely met with excitement, there are still plenty of questions about how it will work in practice. Writing in American Theatre, Jerald Raymond Pierce and Rob Weinert-Kendt offer an explainer with answers to some of those questions.

Bringing Diverse Voices to the Bard

All Things Considered took a look at the rise of Black artists bringing the work of William Shakespeare to life - and the many barriers faced early in their careers - and how their work is bringing a more diverse perspective to the most produced playwright in the English speaking cannon.

Theatre Goers Strongly Support Vaccine Mandates for Audiences

The latest round of the Limelight Research study in the DC Metro Area of theatre audiences found that 70% of survey respondents support vaccine mandates for audience members. The survey also indicated that there is some newly growing hesitancy among patrons as well as it relates to the delta variant of the virus, but that most audiences are still planning to return at some point this fall - with the average return date moving up by almost a month since data was last released this spring.

BroadwayWorld Sits Down with Charlotte St. Martin

In the conversation, St. Martin offers insight into the ongoing effort to get Broadway reopened, the wider cultural sector in New York City, and the unprecedented work of the over 40 task forces tackling the issues facing the Broadway League.

Add Your Show to our Regional Events Calendar

As audiences get set to return to in-person performances, and as your company works to market your own return to the stage, make sure you've got your upcoming shows in our regional events calendars. Listings are free of charge, with boosting options available. Get your show listed now!

BroadwayWorld Stage Mag - A Fully Interactive Show Program

The digital solution to your show program needs - want to see what's possible? Check out the Stage Mag's for off-Broadway's Blindness and for Next on Stage Season 3! Then start building your own at stagemag.broadwayworld.com