Category: theatre

Idled theatres can’t earn money, can’t meet grant requirement deadlines, and have nothing they can do with huge sets or out-of-work actors or stage crews. It’s not OK. “O’Gara conceded that theatre’s future appears ‘pretty dire.'” – American Theatre

It has been difficult at times, looking at the closed doors of theatres and remembering there are no productions to leave the house to go see or participate in. But if the last couple of weeks of new art, streamed productions, and archival releases (and Andrew Lloyd Webber giving everyone a full weekend of Donny Osmond’s Joseph) have shown anything, it’s that there is still an absolutely overwhelming amount of art out there to consume. Theatre artists may be stuck inside, but it’s certainly hard to argue that they’re not as vibrantly creative as ever. – American Theatre

“Even though the [Broadway] League has extended the shut down, many Broadway insiders don’t expect performances to resume until July at the earliest, with some predicting that theaters will stay dark into September. The extended closure will likely mean that more shows that were eyeing limited runs will instead opt not to open at all, a fate that has already befallen the likes of Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen and a revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Laurie Metcalf.” – Variety

The annual celebration of stage work was originally scheduled to be held at Terminal 5 in Manhattan on May 18. Instead it will be postponed until a later, as yet unannounced, date. In an interview with Variety, Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, one of the organizations behind the awards, said the show will include some form of performances, but cautioned that details are still being worked out. – Variety

“In a bold attempt to salvage its shows, the festival … has decided to develop, rehearse, and record all seven of its planned productions and release them in audio form on Audible … [with] the same performers that would have appeared onstage.” – The New York Times

“London’s theatres first shuttered their doors on March 16 in the wake of the escalating coronavirus pandemic. The mass closures, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, mirrored those on Broadway on March 12. … While theatres in New York were initially scheduled to re-open April 13, an update from the Broadway League is expected to arrive in the coming days.” – Playbill

Ben : “In many of these productions, time seemed to be torn off its hinges, and the solid floor of what we think of as ‘normal life’ to have cracked open. Who knew how apt a preface such works would provide for the rudderless world we now inhabit?”
Jesse: “‘Rudderless’ is exactly how a lot of these terrific plays (and a handful of musicals) wanted us to feel politically, existentially and even spiritually — I mean with actual ghosts.” – The New York Times