Industry Pro Newsletter: One Year Later - When Will We Be Back to 'Normal'?

March 15, 2021 -

Broadway theatres have now officially been closed for more than one year. Across the world, other markets have either already surpassed the one year mark or are quickly closing in on it. While this is certainly a bleak anniversary, there were tremendous signs of hope last week. On Thursday night, President Biden said that he was directing all states to make all adults eligible by May 1 - greatly improving upon the timelines we were already seeing. With that announcement, he laid out a vision for a slow return to normalcy over the summer, with the fall looking even more promising for society to be back to our pre-pandemic activities. Over the last few weeks, we've seen announcements that indicate much of the same, and plans are being made, tickets are being sold, and soon artists will be getting hired to get much of the creative economy back to work. While this is not a happy anniversary, it is a hopeful one.

Though Venues Can Open Their Doors, Broadway is Still A Ways Away

While the business models of other city venues can work in a way that meets current health and safety standards, Broadway can't come back until they can operate at full capacity - and then it will be a long runway to actually getting up and running. Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin has indicated that most producers are aiming for the fall, based on current trajectories. She also said that the expectation is that the longer running shows will be the first ones to get back, as they'll have less of a lead time. However, signs of life are returning to the New York creative economy, with venues like The Shed and the Park Avenue Armory adapting their spaces to the new requirements to start bringing audiences back indoors this spring. For a further roundup of New York theatre and Broadway news, check out our roundup of the State of Broadway.

Broadway Tours - and their PAC Counterparts - Targeting a Fall Return

Most of the Performing Arts Centers across the United States have begun announcing dates for Broadway tour stops, and putting season tickets on sale. Unlike previous announcements, most are feeling optimistic that these dates are going to stick.

American Theatre Wing Calls for Further Governmental Support

Citing the deep hole that producers and venues will need to dig themselves out of in New York City - and the amount of the city's economy that the creative economy supports - the American Theatre Wing has begun circulating a petition calling for more funds from state legislatures to 'revive and rebuild' the performing arts sector.

Protestors Occupy French Theatres, Calling for Cultural Institutions to Reopen

Shuttered since October, and with many lockdown restrictions still in place, protestors took to the streets in France. Many of the protestors were arts workers, and during the protests about 50 entered one of the theatres and intended to occupy the building as part of their protest.

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Portal Should Be Open By April

Citing that they've never had a program of this size or scope before, the SBA says that they should have the portal up and running for venues to apply for the funding up and running by early April. Information sessions about the program - and the current rules and eligibility requirements - should be forthcoming later this month.

The New York Times Looks at What Theatres Can Learn from Australia

Offstage, the New York Times digital series about theater during the pandemic, will be taking a look at the major shows that have reopened in Australia - including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Frozen, and Come From Away - and what lessons can be learned for large venues in other parts of the world.

While Prepping for Reopening, West Coast Theatres Eye a Different Potential Crisis: Wildfires

As wildfires become an increasing issue on the west coast of the United States, smoke and other impacts of those fires could pose a deep problem for the areas many outdoor theatres. Though many did not perform last summer due to the pandemic, the potential wildfire impact could rival the pandemic as a threat to the future viability of these companies.

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