More news from the theatre world
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We continue to follow some news items and events regarding theatre in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the US.
Peter Filichia's column on BroadwayOnline speaks volumes.
Pretty much all of New York's theatres were closed down on Tuesday, the day of the attack, and Wednesday for both matinee and evening performances. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani suggested that a reopening of New York's theatres would be helpful to morale and for the city's finances. Most Broadway performances resumed Thursday evening, dimming their marquees prior to performances. Among them Urinetown, which had been scheduled to open that evening. The opening has been postponed until September 20th. Ticket holders for September 11th and 12th performances of Broadway shows are entitled to refunds or exchanges.
Also at a number of theatres, the show was held for a moment of silence and a group singing of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America."
There was a police presence at or near most theatres and icket holders were asked to check bags and packages.
Off- and off-off-Broadway performances are more problematic, with many of the theatres located in the closed areas of Manhattan. Those between Canal and 14th Streets were allowed to reopen on 9/14, with some areas below Canal getting permission in the days following.
All Washington DC theatres resumed performances by the 14th. Only a production of Jeffrey Siegel's "Music for the Young and Young at Heart" has been cancelled because Mr. Siegel was in flight during the attack and was diverted to another airport.
A number of theatres and performers around the country have dedicated performances for disaster relief.
As reported by BroadwayOnline, Actors Equity spokesman David Lotz reports, "no one we know was injured or killed, thank God."
BroadwayOnline also reports that all League of American Theatre Owners and Producers productions were dark on September 11, except for "the national tour of Contact in Salt Lake City, UT, which did so at the request of the governor and mayor, who felt it was important to show that things were operating normally." The League is planning on installing American flags in the lobbies of all Broadway theatres.
As reported in numerous locations, the Roundabout Theatre Company's scheduled Broadway production of the Steven Sondheim/John Weidman musical, Assassins, has been indefinitely postponed. In a press release the authors write:
Assassins is a show which asks audiences to think critically about various aspects of the American experience. In light of Tuesday's murderous assault on our nation and on the most fundamental things in which we all believe, we, the Roundabout, and director Joe Mantello believe this is not an appropriate time to present a show which makes such a demand.
