Industry Pro Newsletter: Vaccinations, the UK, and Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth

June 21, 2021 -

While the UK has delayed their full reopening date by nearly a month, other regions across the globe continue to roll back many of the restrictions they had in place. However, the patchwork of rollbacks and differing approaches to live theatre has many arts administrators feeling stretched beyond reason. Meanwhile, Broadway tours have generated a safety plan that has been met with approval by AEA, and Springsteen on Broadway has a vaccination policy that may keep some international patrons from seeing the show.

Today Was Supposed to be the Day the UK Was Fully Reopen

Last week shortly after this newsletter hit your inboxes, Boris Johnson announced that the UK would be delaying a return to fully reopening - and theatres being allowed to perform to full capacity crowds, by about a month to July 19th. However, there were hints that Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella could open earlier than that as part of a pilot program to test a return to full capacity. But on Friday, Lloyd Webber made it clear he would not participate in yet another pilot program. Cinderella will perform its first preview on June 25th as planned, but at 50% capacity. Beyond Cinderella, other West End shows weighed in on what the delay meant for them, and we've got a roundup of that news here.

Live Theatre in Canada Feels Left Behind

Despite continued easing of restrictions, many Canadian Arts Leaders are feeling deeply burnt out as they continue to fight for the right to produce work within their provinces. Many reopening plans were murky at best in the guidance for theatres, and creating a path forward for organizations of any size was nearly impossible. As Broadway and the West End prepare for full reopenings, the plan is still an open question in Canada.

Springsteen on Broadway to Require FDA and WHO Approved Vaccines

Earlier this month, Springsteen on Broadway announced that to attend the show - the first show opening in a Broadway theatre - audience members will need to be fully vaccinated. Last week, we received further guidance that that only applies to FDA approved vaccinations - however, after an update to New York State guidelines, the new requirement includes all audience members who have received a World Health Organization Approved vaccine, which includes the Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

Broadway Tours Have Their Health and Safety Protocols

AEA and Broadway tours have reached an agreement on health and safety protocols - a major step towards getting tours back on the road later this year. Currently there is no clear guidance on what the rules might be for Broadway shows when they return, but this is also a step to clearing that major hurdle as well.

Latest Report from AAPAC Provides Final Snapshot of Where We Were

The latest report from the Asian American Performers Advocacy Coalition released their report on Friday on the 2018-2019 season on Broadway, the last full season before the pandemic. The report is not particularly surprising in its results, and is particularly useful as a final benchmark of where the industry was before the latest movement for greater diversity and inclusion. Continuing forward, there will also be a new database of data from Counting Together, an organization of which AAPAC is a part.

National Association of Black Theatre Building Owners Formed

The alliance's seven founding members stretch from New York to Houston. They recognize not only their strength in working together, but the collective strength in owning their own buildings in protecting the important work they do in protecting the Black cultural experience in America.

MacKenzie Scott Gives Away Another $2.7 Billion

The list of 286 organizations across the country that were recipients of the latest round of philanthropy from MacKenzie Scott included many smaller arts organizations and a large percentage of BIPOC led organizations. Additionally, the grants were given as unrestricted funds, a major departure from most large dollar philanthropy.

Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth

Over the weekend, Juneteenth was celebrated for the first time as a federally recognized holiday and among the many celebrations across the country, the Broadway League assembled a 90-minute concert live from Times Square. If you missed it, you can check it out on BroadwayWorld's Instagram page!

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