A number of students playing in it thought so — and they felt dismissed, stonewalled, and sometimes threatened when they brought their concerns to festival management. (One student, not long after meeting with administrators, got a message from his private teacher saying, “You need to apologize for the sake of your career.”) – Van
Category: theatre
Major Broadway Theater Operator Sues Insurers For Coronavirus Payments
“Jujamcyn Theaters, the operator of five Broadway houses, has sued its insurers for denying it millions of dollars that the theater company says it deserves as payment for the losses suffered during the monthslong coronavirus pandemic shutdown.” – The New York Times
A Need For Boldness In Rethinking The Arts
We should be deeply skeptical of Trumpian fantasies of business-as-usual on the horizon. There is evidence that the pandemic, when it comes to attending live entertainment events, is changing consumer habits. The lockdown is strengthening two old choke holds on live theater’s existence — convenience and price point. – ArtsFuse
Actors With Disabilities Are Finally Starting To Break Through
“If a successful cultural transformation can be defined as the moment when you can finally stop counting heads, the first sign of that may be when you realize that at least there are heads to count.” Reporter Mark Harris meets with a crop of young performers landing roles and awards — but who still, always, find they have to educate producers, colleagues, and audiences. – T — The New York Times Style Magazine
Reopening Theatres Will Fail If They Can’t Get Insurance
According to producer Edward Snape, the current situation “will stop work happening in the first place”, because producers will not be able to proceed with planned projects uninsured. “Without it, we don’t restart”, he added. – The Stage
Actors’ Equity OKs Three Indoor Productions, The First Since COVID Lockdown
“All three theaters are nonprofits in New England, where virus cases are low. The region has already been home to the first two outdoor productions featuring union actors during the pandemic. … Among the shows planned is a seven-actor version of Little Shop of Horrors; the theater is still figuring out how to stage a sadistic dental exam and several encounters with a man-eating plant, but is pledging to limit physical contact between actors (and yes, that means Audrey and Seymour will not kiss).” – The New York Times
New York’s Public Theater Gives Money To Its Out-Of-Work Freelancers
“The theater said it has given $1,000 ‘financial relief payments’ to 368 people including technicians and crew members like carpenters, truck drivers, engineers and programmers; teaching artists, who facilitate classes, workshops and talkbacks; and members of working groups, which support artists as they develop.” – The New York Times
How Theatres In Belarus Got Politically Active
Belarusian theatres, almost all of them state-owned since Soviet times, have officially remained outside of politics for 26 years. Everyone in management positions was appointed by the Ministry of Culture, and any political activity by employees was punished severely. But this August, it seems, even the Belarusian state theatres awoke from their slumber. – American Theatre
Minneapolis Theatre Looks Into The Future, Decides To Shut Down After One Last Season
The company realized last November that, given the current funding climate, it would not be able to sustain itself beyond the coming year. State and private grant priorities were shifting, Avitabile said, and a few key donors were no longer in a position to give. Rather than go into debt, 20% Theatre will use its last season to celebrate accomplishments. – MPR
Stand-Up Comedians Aren’t Finding The Whole Situation Very Funny Right Now
Should stand-up comedians play drive-in gigs, participate in Zooming, try to start YouTube channels or wait, somehow, for live audiences to return? It’s a bit of a mess for them, and sitting down to tell stories on camera … well. “It’s not really stand up per se. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really good and people have recorded really funny stuff. [But] It’s not quite live comedy. It’s filling a gap until we can get back on stage.” – BBC