Industry Pro Newsletter: Off-Broadway heads to court, theatre slowly returns to the US Capital

November 9, 2020 -

This week, we have stories of two different regions - first, a story out of New York City where off-Broadway theatre's and other small venues have filed suit against the state of New York to receive permission to start reopening. We also have the opposite side of that story out of DC, where one small venue has reopened for indoor theatre performances under a pilot program from the city. We also explore how the Kennedy Center has kept in person performance alive in their venues, as well as more labor disputes - this time between labor and management and not between the Unions themselves.

Off-Broadway Will Have Its Day in Court

12 Off-Broadway and related small venues in New York City filed suit against the state to allow them to re-open at diminished capacity under restrictions and guidelines similar to those in place for restaurants that were able to begin providing indoor dining again on September 30th: reduced capacity, infrastructure upgrades to their HVAC system, and more. With other indoor industries reopening, these small venues are seeking to be the "training wheels" ahead of the reopening of Broadway sometime next year.

How the Kennedy Center is "Maintaining the Flame of Live Performance"

The schedule, style, and number of audience members certainly looks different than originally planned, and they are still operating at a massive loss, but DC Metro Theater Arts takes a look at how the Kennedy Center has continued live performance in the midst of the pandemic.

GALA Hispanic Theatre Resumes Live Theatre Indoors in DC

Last week, GALA Hispanic Theatre in DC became the first company with live, indoor theatrical performance as part of a pilot program with the city. Join WJLA ABC7 in DC as they took a look at GALA's Covid protocols for the opening weekend of El perro del hortelano.

Labor Disputes Extend Beyond AEA vs SAG-AFTRA

The Washington Post reported last week that unions representing a myriad of entertainment industry professionals both on-stage and off have filed grievances with the NLRB as venues and producers attempt to renegotiate contracts under the guise of economic pressures from the pandemic.

artEquity Announces BIPOC Leadership Circle

With the need for change evident in the industry, this new program centers the needs of BIPOC leaders of cultural institutions in conversations about rebuilding the industry post-pandemic, as well as providing a broader network of support for rising BIPOC leaders who are navigating historically predominantly white spaces.

What Great Work Will Emerge from this Moment?

Early on in the pandemic, we all heard about Shakespeare writing King Lear during the plague. But even beyond COVID-19, we are in the midst of historic upheaval and the industry is beginning to respond. The Washington Post's Peter Marks asks what great works will emerge from this momentous moment in the history of our field.

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