Broadway, Closed 3/12-4/12

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/breaking-all-broadway-theaters-are-closed-effective-today-031220

[foxy]

I have contacted TDF and they are beginning to process refunds for cancelled performances. I also had tickets at the Park Avenue Armory for a concert of the Maria Vespers March 22. I called the box office and they have processed a refund on my credit card. If you have tickets for any performances you should be able to get a refund. This is all very sad.

[+ nycman]

“I don’t want to see Broadway go dark if we can avoid it,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said this morning.

“I want to see if we can strike some kind of balance.”

 

Yep, he’s still a moron.

[edjames]

Telecharge and Ticketmaster will automatically process refunds to cancelled shows.

 

Here's Michael Reidel's NYPost column on the Broadway shutdown:

 

https://nypost.com/2020/03/12/the-show-will-go-on-how-broadway-will-survive-coronavirus/

 

The show will go on: How Broadway will survive coronavirus

With the coronavirus outbreak, Broadway is facing its worst crisis since 9/11. But it got a lifeline, albeit a thin one, from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who yesterday prohibited gatherings of more than 500 people. That ruling allows Broadway producers, whose shows have been shut down through April 12, to collect insurance money. The payments won’t cover everything — and many shows may close or not even open — but as one producer said, “It’s something.”

As the week began, Broadway seemed determined to stick to the old adage, “The show must go on.” But as the virus — and the panic — spread, producers were shocked to see so many theatergoers clamoring for refunds or new dates. (Telecharge will automatically refund purchased tickets for performances between March 12 and April 12.)

After President Trump announced that he was prohibiting flights from Europe to America, the bottom fell out. Tourists buy nearly 65 percent of the tickets sold on Broadway, especially in the spring and summer.

Until the coronavirus abates, very few people will be traveling anywhere. Actors Equity, which represents Broadway performers, advocated for a shutdown. An actor in “Moulin Rouge!” stayed home with a fever, and everybody backstage was fearful of his condition. It’s not been determined if he has the virus.

Broadway producers met Thursday at noon to decide what to do, and everybody was “calm,” a source said. The producers realized Broadway had to close, but believe the industry can bounce back once the fear has abated.

Broadway will go dark tonight amid coronavirus panic.

Whether some of its new shows will survive remains to be seen. A few shows in previews don’t have enough cash reserves to see them through this storm. Tracy Letts’ new play “The Minutes,” which was to open on Sunday, was rumored to be in trouble. But a spokesman insists: “‘The Minutes’ will reopen on April 13.”

Martin McDonagh’s “Hangmen,” which won great reviews when it played off-Broadway, was also in previews and could find itself in trouble. But its producer Robert Fox says: “We will be looking at the situation, and if there is potential to reopen, we will reopen along with the other plays that are in the same situation.”

There were rumors that Broadway’s longest running show — “The Phantom of the Opera” — may have to close down for good. After 32 years, it’s dependent on the tourist trade, which will be thin for the next few months. But Andrew Lloyd Webber tells me that he has no intention of closing it. There are “huge plans to remarket and refresh it,” says Lloyd Webber, who plans to keep it open another 30 years.

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were due to begin previews Friday in “Plaza Suite.” They both got sick with flu in Boston during the out-of-town tryout, and were understandably worried about opening during the coronavirus outbreak. (Broderick’s sister was just diagnosed with the virus.) But they’re both troopers and have let it be known that when Broadway is up and running again, they’ll be ready to perform.

 

At the end of the day, that spirit is what will save Broadway. Not only has the Great White Way weathered 9/11, but it also survived the Great Depression, the financial crises of the 1970s and 2008 and another virus more deadly than coronavirus: AIDS.

That one wiped out untold numbers of theater people.

Broadway will come back, one press agent says, because “we’re good at staging comebacks.”

And when it does, I see Patti LuPone, the star of the upcoming revival of “Company,” Broderick, Parker, Hugh Jackman and the casts of “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Wicked,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Hamilton” leading the charge.

If only Elaine Stritch could be there to lead everybody in “I’m Still Here,” Broadway’s true anthem, now and forever.

[bostonman]

“I don’t want to see Broadway go dark if we can avoid it,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said this morning.

“I want to see if we can strike some kind of balance.”

 

Yep, he’s still a moron.

 

I don't think anyone WANTED to see Broadway go dark. The quick (though gradual) closing of theatre in Boston last week was awful as well. (I think I saw the very last regional performance in town on Saturday night.) But it had to happen. Even me, as a now out-of-work theatre professional, understands why it had to happen.

 

Are you saying he's a moron because he didn't close things sooner? I can understand that. But it seems to me that this past week was when the shit hit the fan for a number of large cities - colleges closing, and the cascade going from there. Hindsight at this point no longer matters. But if we're going there regardless, the mismanagement starts with the orange moron, no one else. There has been so much confusion, so little information, and so much MISinformation that I almost can't blame anyone else for not responding faster.

 

That said, I tend to doubt Broadway will open up as soon as it would like to. But I hope when it does open, that shows can continue as they were. Financially, like everywhere else, it's going to be a real mess.

 

Not that I'm trying to be a prophet of doom. This is my own business I'm talking about, after all, and I'm scared at this point about losing more gigs and having less music to make. This is devastating for me and for huge numbers of colleagues. So I do hope theatre is back up and running as soon as it can be.

[wklukas]

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/breaking-all-broadway-theaters-are-closed-effective-today-031220

 

Announced today.....dark at least until June 7th.....(many folks expect much longer)

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/coronavirus-shutdown-extends-june-broadway-1288553

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Announced today.....dark at least until June 7th.....(many folks expect much longer)

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/coronavirus-shutdown-extends-june-broadway-1288553

 

A lot of the long-running shows (Chicago, Wicked, Phantom) aren't scheduling re-opening until Sept.

[cany10011]

A lot of the long-running shows (Chicago, Wicked, Phantom) aren't scheduling re-opening until Sept.

 

This really sucks... was hoping things would be over sooner. They say NYC is at the peak tomorrow... so hopefully it will be end of May before things optimistically re-open... but i guess people are conservative....

[big-n-tall]

I was so looking forward to the revival of “Take Me Out.” I think it was to go into previews this month. I hope this doesn’t set it back to much or shutter it completely whenever Broadway reopens.

[wklukas]

A lot of the long-running shows (Chicago, Wicked, Phantom) aren't scheduling re-opening until Sept.

 

 

The Society of London Theatre announced yesterday an extension of the closing of all West End district theatres until June 1st as well....some of the West End district theatres pack patrons in their seats tighter than proverbial sardines in a can.....not sure how fast the crowds are going to be clamoring for tickets in close quarters again.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

The problem won't be waiting until the curve flattens, but how long a working vaccine takes to get through the FDA.

 

Even if places open back up, how many people are willing to risk sitting in a confined, small theatre, watching a show and knowing that there's no guarantee of health amongst the 2000 or so audience members.

 

I had this discussion recently with someone- specifically about Las Vegas- that these normally slam-packed places will have a very tough time bouncing back. I hope people will be smart/careful enough to tiptoe back into normalcy.

[BSR]

The problem won't be waiting until the curve flattens, but how long a working vaccine takes to get through the FDA.

 

Even if places open back up, how many people are willing to risk sitting in a confined, small theatre, watching a show and knowing that there's no guarantee of health amongst the 2000 or so audience members.

 

I had this discussion recently with someone- specifically about Las Vegas- that these normally slam-packed places will have a very tough time bouncing back. I hope people will be smart/careful enough to tiptoe back into normalcy.

 

I think life will get back to normal pretty quickly once a vaccine is developed, but eesh, how long will we have to wait for a vaccine? If it's 12-18 months, what will be left of Broadway & Las Vegas?

[+ g56whiz]

The problem won't be waiting until the curve flattens, but how long a working vaccine takes to get through the FDA.

 

Even if places open back up, how many people are willing to risk sitting in a confined, small theatre, watching a show and knowing that there's no guarantee of health amongst the 2000 or so audience members.

 

I had this discussion recently with someone- specifically about Las Vegas- that these normally slam-packed places will have a very tough time bouncing back. I hope people will be smart/careful enough to tiptoe back into normalcy.

It’s unlikely that the “normalcy” we tiptoe back to will be like the one we remember. Alas.

[BSR]

It’s unlikely that the “normalcy” we tiptoe back to will be like the one we remember. Alas.

 

I see Broadway as somewhat unique. Theater has its die-hards, who will crawl over broken glass to see a good production. It also draws a never-ending barrage of tourists, for whom a trip to the City just isn't complete unless they take in a show. It might take a while, but I am quite optimistic about Broadway's resilience.

 

What I'm not so sure about are movie theaters. In-home viewing (VHS->DVDs->streaming) has taken over so much movie-watching that I think movie houses will never bounce back. Oh sure, people will still go to see their superheroes on a giant screen, but I wouldn't be surprised if more than half or even two-thirds of movie theaters closed and stayed closed because of the coronavirus.

[+ WilliamM]

I see Broadway as somewhat unique. Theater has its die-hards, who will crawl over broken glass to see a good production. It also draws a never-ending barrage of tourists, for whom a trip to the City just isn't complete unless they take in a show. It might take a while, but I am quite optimistic about Broadway's resilience.

 

What I'm not so sure about are movie theaters. In-home viewing (VHS->DVDs->streaming) has taken over so much movie-watching that I think movie houses will never bounce back. Oh sure, people will still go to see their superheroes on a giant screen, but I wouldn't be surprised if more than half or even two-thirds of movie theaters closed and stayed closed because of the coronavirus.

 

When I was a kid we saw an out of town try out of a play with Henry Fonda and Barbara Bel Geddes. I didn't realize to was possible to see Henry Fonda in person.

[tchm]

Just finished watching the free streaming of Jane Eyre. I thought it was excellent. Captivating and very inventive with great performances. It's amazing what they were able to do with just a platform and ladders as set. Was this ever on Broadway?

[TruthBTold]

I see Broadway as somewhat unique. Theater has its die-hards, who will crawl over broken glass to see a good production. It also draws a never-ending barrage of tourists, for whom a trip to the City just isn't complete unless they take in a show. It might take a while, but I am quite optimistic about Broadway's resilience.

 

What I'm not so sure about are movie theaters. In-home viewing (VHS->DVDs->streaming) has taken over so much movie-watching that I think movie houses will never bounce back. Oh sure, people will still go to see their superheroes on a giant screen, but I wouldn't be surprised if more than half or even two-thirds of movie theaters closed and stayed closed because of the coronavirus.

 

What I am worried about also is that so many people are going to be suffering financially for a long time after the crisis is over no one is even going to be able to go to the theater for a while.

[+ g56whiz]

What I am worried about also is that so many people are going to be suffering financially for a long time after the crisis is over no one is even going to be able to go to the theater for a while.

Maybe it will end the Disneyfication of B’way and that might a good thing.