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Monday, September 06, 2021
Muny cancels remaining 'Chicago' performances due to cast COVID-19 cases
Arts and theater | stltoday.com: The Muny has canceled the three remaining performances of “Chicago,” the final production in its 103rd season, because of “positive COVID-19 breakthrough cases” among the cast, the theater said Friday in an announcement.
I remember when I first saw news that shows had to be cancelled due to break through COVID cases. I remember being shocked and worried. Now in September of 2021, I unfortunately don't feel the same way. I think that a majority of people have been desensitized to this news because it's no longer new information. This is happening way too often. I think there are many reasons why these breakthrough cases are happening and it's not always the fault of the theatre but the immediate question that comes to mind is what were the COVID protocols in place at this theatre? Upon looking at their website, I found that audience members were not required to wear masks at this outdoor theatre if they were fully vaccinated. However, no proof of vaccination status was required and it appears that no social distancing measures were in place as they state that they were back to full capacity. Being that the cast was unmasked, it makes me wonder what the protocols for the cast where during this time and if maybe this outbreak could have been prevented. It seems however, that the MUNY did have a successful season up until Chicago, their final show of the season. a
This is incredibly sad, but unfortunately not unexpected. After putting up with the pandemic for well over a year, people are eager to go back into theatres and put on shows again, understandably so. This comes at a price, just as the scenario in this article proves. Like Brooke said, the audience members were not required to wear masks if they were fully vaccinated, but vaccination status was not checked. Everyone is so ready to get out of the pandemic and for things to go back to how they were before the pandemic that we can often overlook proper safety protocols because we think we are in the home stretch. Looking forward, I think the pandemic will introduce new and better sanitary protocols in theatre even after the pandemic is long gone. Illness can still take actors out from shows in the same way that COVID-19 put a halt on the entire entertainment industry. Improved standards for sanitation and health will definitely help prevent these illnesses from throwing a wrench in a production, that is if companies will take the initiative to continue these standards.
2 comments:
I remember when I first saw news that shows had to be cancelled due to break through COVID cases. I remember being shocked and worried. Now in September of 2021, I unfortunately don't feel the same way. I think that a majority of people have been desensitized to this news because it's no longer new information. This is happening way too often. I think there are many reasons why these breakthrough cases are happening and it's not always the fault of the theatre but the immediate question that comes to mind is what were the COVID protocols in place at this theatre? Upon looking at their website, I found that audience members were not required to wear masks at this outdoor theatre if they were fully vaccinated. However, no proof of vaccination status was required and it appears that no social distancing measures were in place as they state that they were back to full capacity. Being that the cast was unmasked, it makes me wonder what the protocols for the cast where during this time and if maybe this outbreak could have been prevented. It seems however, that the MUNY did have a successful season up until Chicago, their final show of the season. a
This is incredibly sad, but unfortunately not unexpected. After putting up with the pandemic for well over a year, people are eager to go back into theatres and put on shows again, understandably so. This comes at a price, just as the scenario in this article proves. Like Brooke said, the audience members were not required to wear masks if they were fully vaccinated, but vaccination status was not checked. Everyone is so ready to get out of the pandemic and for things to go back to how they were before the pandemic that we can often overlook proper safety protocols because we think we are in the home stretch. Looking forward, I think the pandemic will introduce new and better sanitary protocols in theatre even after the pandemic is long gone. Illness can still take actors out from shows in the same way that COVID-19 put a halt on the entire entertainment industry. Improved standards for sanitation and health will definitely help prevent these illnesses from throwing a wrench in a production, that is if companies will take the initiative to continue these standards.
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