Theater | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper: “I promise you that Pittsburgh will see Broadway again,” Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust told PNC Broadway subscribers on Tuesday night.
Members of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Producing Offices, and Broadway Across America addressed hundreds of fans of the local broadway series to discuss “the road back to the theater” in a virtual town hall on YouTube on Tue., Oct. 27.
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The interesting part of all of this is that its going to be a while before we see tours again because tours need to regroup before even thinking of going on the road again. Look, I think that the touring lifestyle is something that I really want to do someday, but now its looking like that thing I wanted to do right after I graduate is going to have to wait a couple more years. At first it was disappointing but I got over it because the greater health of the society just matters more right now. I find it interesting when companies send out announcements that they are going to come back and that they'll do it when its safe, but don't worry cause they're coming back. The fact of the matter is, if people didn't know by now they should know that there is a global pandemic and an event that puts a whole bunch of people in one room breathing the same air, isn't something that is going to happen in a while.
While we all know that it is not the safest for theater to return, it is hopeful to read articles like these. With the current state of theaters mostly being closed, this adds a nice comfort to know that the Benedium is still able and committed to presenting Broadway tours once it is safe enough to do so. It’s interesting to see that Hamilton is still committed for a 2022 return. However, they are the exception to Broadway with how much of an entity Hamilton has become. They are also the only current Show to still be paying for their company’s health insurance. While I know many other shows cannot afford to be paying for it, and are not obligated to, it is nice to see a show care so much about the people who work on it. They also care so much about getting people to see it. Instead of pushing back the theatrical release of the Hamilton filmed live, they put it on Disney+ to allow so many to watch. Hopefully we are able to safely see these shows!
The thought of going back to something really scares me when I think about it. It’s weird to think that this kind of life now is temporary (hopefully) and that right now things aren't normal but eventually will be again. Going back to theatre is something that I seriously cannot wait for. Yes, everything will be different and yes it’s going to be really hard at first to adjust and get back into the swing of normal life, but it’s going to be so exciting. I think about that all the time and how much theatre has adapted given the circumstances in which we currently live in. The fact that someone can promise that theatre will continue or at least in Pittsburgh is really comforting even if it means it comes back in a different way, it’s still nice to hold on to that little bit of hope that is left and have it confirmed.
Oh I long for the day when I can feel the soft plush velvety smoothness of a theatre seat. The article hits it right on the head, no theatre until they can have a full house. Sadly, that also means that, based on current assessments, touring shows won’t return until the fall 2021 season. All of this of course is also based on our ability as an industry to rebound. These shows have been in trucks for 9 months at this stage. The sets, lights, and costumes are all going to have to come off the trucks and be set up in a venue and possibly repaired before a cast can come on stage. Lamps will have to be changed, costumes cleaned, props fixed and let’s not forget that all of these crews who have been out of work for all this time will also need time to rehearse all of the scene changes, fly cues, lighting and sound changes and more. It’s not like we can just pick up the bike and be riding off into the sunset. It may take till the spring of 2022 just to get some of these shows, especially the larger ones, back to full steam. Let’s hope not, but let’s also be prepared for the worse.
While this does give a lot of people hope to see live theatre again, it brings a lot of anxiety to me. Not reopening until the beginning of 2022 seems like enough time *hopefully*. The main thing I would be worried about would be audience anxiety of trying to return to life without masks and distancing themselves from other people. While there is a lot of anxiety, I seriously cannot wait until people are able to enjoy live theatre again. Being on the other side of this and hoping for a job in this field, I can only hope for the best when I graduate. I miss talking to people without the fear of one of us being potentially infected and going to concerts, shows, movies, etc. But above missing all of these things, I have high-risk family members who are more important than live entertainment. I hope they are smart in how they reopen in the beginning of 2022.
I miss theatre so much. When I lived in LA I didn't love and understand theatre as much as I do now, and when I lived in Arizona, the theatre scene was weak, and shows I did see I never really liked that much. (Aside from this very specific production of Cabaret which changed my life and made Cabaret the best show ever ever ever in the world for me.) I was excited yet nervous to move to Pittsburgh because I was excited to jump into a new theatre scene, but nervous because I knew it wasn’t as “large” as I imagined my college years to be spent in. When COVID hit, my love for theatre also wavered. It still wavers now because I haven’t seen or worked in a proper show for what has almost been a year. Do I still love theatre? Will theatre be the same when it returns? This is hopeful though, to know, that theatre CAN and WILL come back one day. Because I’ve been losing a little hope. I just have to wait awhile.
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