Category: theatre

Alexis Soloski got texts from Romeo (who’s a bit of a jerk), helped someone held hostage in Venezuela undo handcuffs, failed to help a pilot land a 747, told an inspector for the Misplaced Keepsakes Division about her long-lost Piaget watch, and (“because I am a terrible props mistress”) scalded herself while attempting Play in a Bathtub. – The New York Times

Artistic director Oskar Eustis said that “there’s no way we can responsibly prepare, build and rehearse to get shows open in a timing that might match the quarantine’s timing.” 70% of full-time staff will be furloughed through the summer, with the rest taking pay cuts. Even so, the Public is now producing a videoconferencing play that Eustis calls “the best thing about how we live now in quarantine that I’ve read in any medium.” – The New York Times

Every year since the mid-17th century, when a freak snowstorm stopped the shogun’s enforcer and saved them from a death sentence, the people of the mountain hamlet of Damine have performed a kabuki play to honor the goddess of mercy. They’ve never missed a year, not even during World War II. But, as with so much of rural Japan, all but the oldest people are gradually abandoning Damine for cities with better jobs. – The New York Times

Bleak of course (how could it not be with all the cancellations?). On the other hand, reading through the data gives a sense of where the people who run theatres think they’re headed. – Theatre Communications Group

Responding to “troubling reports” of some theaters’ plans, the union’s executive director said, “Any employer who wants to begin theatrical productions needs to have a comprehensive plan in place that protects not just the actors and stage managers, but ensures that everyone who works in the theater has a safe workplace. It is unclear under the current circumstances how that can happen.” – Deadline

“Theatre finance departments have been in an all-hands-on-deck mode as they gather payroll reports and compile the information needed for [CARES Act aid] applications. It’s been a round-the-clock undertaking, with some portals to loan applications opening as late as midnight, others in the early morning hours. Work-from-home days are stacked with meetings and calls with bankers, investors, and board members. Funds are being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.” – American Theatre

A benefit concert from last November, in which 79 stage performers did songs from Disney musicals, was going to be streamed online to benefit the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund — until, less than a day ahead of time, the international president of the American Federation of Musicians demanded that the pit band be paid extra for streaming rights. (Equity and SAG-AFTRA had waived such payments.) On Sunday, the musicians involved, backed by the union’s New York local, said publicly that they didn’t want the additional money; in less than 24 hours, the AFM president changed his position. – The New York Times

Organizers called off the festival, scheduled for July 3-23, within minutes of an announcement by France’s President Macron that, because of the COVID epidemic, it would be unsafe to hold major summer events until at least mid-July. – France 24

The show is a Disney concert from last year that producers want to use to raise money for COVID relief. All the unions had agreed except for the musicians union. “As musicians we have lost the opportunity to perform publicly, but this use of our recorded performance could have been a great tool to raise funds for people in our community that are in need,” the petition states in part. – Deadline