“With its shows canceled until further notice and its revenue stream obliterated, Chicago’s most illustrious comedy theater … is trying to improvise its way out of a major crisis. … [Job losses] includ[e] all casts, front-of-house workers and food and beverage workers.” – Chicago Tribune
Blog
Upright Citizens Brigade, Already Teetering, Dumps Entire Staff By Mass Email
“Last week’s layoffs were just the latest addition to a list of controversial upheavals for the company in recent years, including climbing ticket prices in early 2017, the move from Chelsea to the bigger, less convenient Hell’s Kitchen theater in late 2017, mass layoffs in 2018, shuttering the East Village theater in 2019, and constant debate surrounding its choice to not pay performers. … There’s growing sentiment among many people in the UCB community that even if the theaters return post-coronavirus, they may not.” – Vulture
U.S. Supreme Court Throws Out Filmmaker’s Copyright Lawsuit Against North Carolina
“The justices unanimously upheld a lower court’s 2018 ruling that the state was protected by a legal doctrine called sovereign immunity and could not be sued for copyright infringement for using filmmaker Frederick Allen’s images [of the salvaging of the pirate Blackbeard’s ship] online.” – Reuters
Berlin Launches €100 Million Aid Program For Freelance Arts Workers
“The Berlin Senate announced … that it would soon be offering €100 million ($107 million) in €5,000 ($5,366) grants to freelance workers and small businesses in the cultural sector. In addition, the senate is offering another €300 million ($322 million) in loans for the retail, hotel, restaurant, and cultural industries.” – Artnet
One Of Britain’s Major Classical Artist Management Agencies Is Liquidating
Yes, it’s because of the coronavirus. “‘Our artists, staff, directors and shareholders are devastated by this sad but inevitable turn of events,’ says Hazard Chase managing director, James Brown. ‘Our world has been torn apart in less than a month.'” – Classical Music (UK)
Cirque Du Soleil Furloughs 95% Of Its Employees
“The Montreal-based circus giant said temporarily cutting 4,679 jobs was necessary after 44 shows worldwide were shuttered amid the virus outbreak.” – The Hollywood Reporter
London’s Royal Ballet Cuts Ties With Choreographer Liam Scarlett
The move comes after an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Scarlett, who had been artist-in-residence, with students at the Royal Ballet School. The company also said, in what seems a carefully worded statement, that “there were no matters to pursue in relation to alleged contact with students.” – The Guardian
New York Philharmonic Cancels Season, Will Give Musicians Partial Pay
“CEO Deborah Borda said that the orchestra has negotiated a new interim deal with its musicians: They will be paid in full until March 31, and then accept reduced pay for the next two months. Health insurance and instrument insurance will continue through the remainder of the current contract, which expires September 20.” – Vulture
What Will The Arts Look Like When This Is All Over?
Even in that best-case scenario — say, a May return — it may take years to return to the vibrant, cultural universe that defines our country. – Washington Post
Strand Bookstore Lays Off 188 Workers
“This is the first time in our history that we have had to have a layoff,” owner Nancy Bass Wyden Bass Wyden wrote in a statement. Employees will receive a week of pay in addition to payment for any vacation time they have accrued. “We are also working with our union and our providers to extend health insurance as long as possible.” – Publishers Weekly