Theatre Development Fund – TDF: March 12 is my anniversary with my boyfriend, and we had been planning on celebrating by seeing the gender-swapped revival of Company on Broadway. When I woke up last Thursday, I had expected to spend the evening sharing a romantic dinner and finally seeing Patti LuPone live on stage. But once Broadway closed its doors in response to COVID-19 crisis, it turned into the most confusing, disorienting and frightening day I've had since moving to New York City.
And yet, to quote Company, I'm "sorry-grateful."
5 comments:
Immediately, on the most surface level, I too was interested in seeing Company on Broadway and was in the city the day it was announced that all Broadway theaters would be closing their doors for a while. I really did appreciate understanding this perspective of someone who has been vigilantly following this pandemic out of immediate concern for their wellbeing. I agree with a lot of the things the author shared, Broadway did feel immortal and has not had any kind of shutdown to this scale ever before. I won’t forget the day we found out that they were closing down the theaters for a month, it was incredibly surreal to be on the bleeding edge of such a large development in this unfolding of events. It's nice to read about the appreciation this author has for artists sharing their talents with us from afar. It is much welcomed in this time of uncertainty.
Broadway's shutdown didn't feel like a positive decision, just a required one. But after reading this emotional account from an immunocompromised individual who was so thankful, I really realize how necessary it is. Nobody should be put in the vulnerable position of putting on a show in today's world. People began to realize the dangers before Broadway even closed down. I saw on social media posts from my friends that the theatres they were at were nearly empty. While I feel healthy, and my family seems healthy, I am taking all the precautions of social distancing and staying at home for individuals like the one sharing her story in this article. Her account feels even closer to me, as she is a college student pursuing a degree and a career in theatre. The sense of community and solidarity she feels from afar proves that all our efforts are worth it.
This article is really relevant for theatre lovers everywhere. It never felt like Broadway closing was something that was possilbe, or ever gonna happen during our lifetime. It has been a force in many of our lives, that even when we aren't there we know that it exists, because stars post videos. or people post playbill photos. It was so crazy that all of the sudden, with everything changing, and many things closing, Broadway completely went dark. I can't imagine what it looks like right now, being empty and dark. I think that it is so important that she realized she's was immunocompromised and didn't go, and really broadway should've closed down sooner. I think that everyone didn't expect the pandemic to get this bad, so no one was worried at first. Now, being stuck at home feels so surreal and it's crazy to think that unlike when I was sitting at home before, now nothing is going on beyond my walls.
This is a really wonderful article. This time is so hard for the arts community, but I love how this article frames it as a new sort of glue to help us bond together to process this crisis in a way we never have before. The author says that “Now, in a moment of terrifying uncertainty, Broadway suddenly wasn't there for us” and that quote really hit home. They then continue on to speak about how Broadway and the community is actually there, in the only way they can be right now, through the internet. But it is strange and unnerving to be going through such a monumental period of time, and the artists that normally help us cope and process as a community, are not there. They are home, just like us, fighting in the only way they can; by washing their hands and singing songs on Instagram live.
This article was an intimate account of a very stressful and monumental day. I think it spoke to many people on many levels especially in our circle considering her age and position as a theatre student. While I was watching Broadway shows mere days before the shutdown and rarely saw an empty seat, I also watched my grandmother in distress over her concerns over bringing homesickness to my very frail grandfather. She made the decision 2 hours after coming into the city she needed to get out even though that meant missing out on seeing Hadestown with me and my cousins. Her health and my grandfather's health was too important. It was very sad to watch her have to make that decision and I’m very glad that Broadway prevented people from having to make that difficult decision between seeing a show and risking your health. With all that said I wonder how recovery will work and if there will be a period like early last week in which there will still be risk at the theatre. Maybe there will always be.
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