Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity- Page 2
Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
BroadwayRox3588
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/16
#25Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 2:36pm
There's a very simple way to alleviate all of these concerns: just get the vaccine.
I personally don't think we (or any country) should hold entire industries in limbo, just because of people who refuse to be vaccinated. I was watching an interview with a player on the Washington Football Team, who said he wasn't going to get vaccinated until he got COVID. Why should entire industries have to continue suffering, to protect people like that? If people don't want to get vaccinated, that's their fault. NMP.
#26Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 5:23pm
BroadwayRox3588 said: " Why should entire industries have to continue suffering, to protect people like that? If people don't want to get vaccinated, that's their fault. NMP."
You don't have to. It's very simple. If you're not getting vaccinated, you're not performing and you're not attending. If ALW truly gave two ****s that would be his stipulation. How you get to here immunity is by making not being vaccinated inconvenient for them.
#27Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 6:38pm
BroadwayRox3588 said: "There's a very simple way to alleviate all of these concerns: just get the vaccine.
I personally don't think we (or any country) should hold entire industries in limbo, just because of people who refuse to be vaccinated. I was watching an interview with a player on the Washington Football Team, who said he wasn't going to get vaccinated until he got COVID. Why should entire industries have to continue suffering, to protect people like that? If people don't want to get vaccinated, that's their fault. NMP."
In general I agree but societies don't function in generalities. There are many aspects of this. First, obviously, a society is obliged to take the steps necessary to avoid epidemics. We can't have hospitals and morgues overrun with the dead and the near dead. Second, we are obliged to protect the helpless. When we let sick people into high risk environments with vaccinated people, we expose those with whom some of us live who cannot be vaccinated to the virus, including, for now at least, young children. Beyond that, no I don't care if idiots get sick. We have the means of avoiding them. For starters, in New York's theatre district, virtually everyone (over 99%) is vaccinated enough to prevent getting sick. And the clean folks can go to the theatre without concern as long as we kick the dirty folks to the curb. That seems to be what we are doing, and it works. Even most idiots will relent and get the shot once they are sufficiently inconvenienced. This is a sane, rational, and humane way to move forward. And it doesn't "hold entire industries in limbo, just because of people who refuse to be vaccinated." Contrast what we are doing with what the odious ALW is kvetching about. We don't let people die so rich people can get richer. Only pathetic Tories do that. We don't need to. We have a path forward. Yay.
MBFan
Understudy Joined: 4/23/05
#28Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 8:49pm
Are you saying no one will be allowed into a NYC theater ever unless they're vaccinated?
#29Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 9:29pm
MBFan said: "Are you saying no one will be allowed into a NYC theater ever unless they're vaccinated?"
Is that how it SHOULD be? Yes absolutely. Will it be? No... but see the difference between Broadway & London right now is that Broadway has already been given the greenlight to resume and could have weeks ago, but most shows opted to wait until September or even later to allow time for safe rehearsal, allow vaccinations to really take hold, and allow them to have the biggest audiences possible.
If the Government never shut London Theatre down, ALW would have used every justification he could muster to not close by choice for the good of the nation. He would have echoed his same messy science he's alluding to now to justify it as people in his companies & audiences fell ill. ALW (and I'm sure Cam Mac) are running toward that June opening date with bated breath because they're money hungry assholes putting their pocket books above doing this safely.
#30Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 10:23pm
TheatreFan4 said: "MBFan said: "Are you saying no one will be allowed into a NYC theater ever unless they're vaccinated?"
Is that how it SHOULD be? Yes absolutely. Will it be? No... "
I'm not so sure. Multiple shows are requiring vaccines and, to my knowledge, no Broadway show has said they are not. We have a lot of experience now with baseball, and the segregated test-instead-of-vaccine sections are shrinking dramatically, both because of demand and also because the testing nuisance and expense gets old quickly. My guess is we might see a hybrid on Broadway but we have time to let it shake out. The state is definitely pushing the vaccine only approach because it is good public health strategy.
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#31Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 10:31pm
TheatreFan4 said: "Is that how it SHOULD be? Yes absolutely. Will it be? No... but see the difference between Broadway & London right now is that Broadway has already been given the greenlight to resume and could have weeks ago, but most shows opted to wait until September or even later to allow time for safe rehearsal, allow vaccinations to really take hold, and allow them to have the biggest audiences possible."
Social distancing is still a requirement for now, which is why Broadway isn't opening sooner. The financial conditions of a Broadway show make it impossible to make money if they can't sell every seat.
#32Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 10:39pm
Fosse76 said: "Social distancing is still a requirement for now,which is why Broadway isn't opening sooner. The financial conditions of a Broadway show make it impossible to make money if they can't sell every seat."
I am under the impression that social distancing is not required when vaccines are. Is that wrong? Isn't that what the Springsteen show is doing in a couple of weeks?
#33Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 10:47pmHogan, you’re correct.
#34Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 11:04pmBut actually, since pretty much all restrictions will be lifted here when we hit 70% vaccinated which they’re saying will be really soon - I don’t know what that’s going to mean anymore for things like this.
#35Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 11:13pm
I think we shall have to see. I have long believed that the vaccine requirement may actually sell tickets rather than v/v, especially once we get past the holidays. Maybe things will change but when those southern states start to have another wave of virus in the winter, I don't know how many people are going to be keen on having them breathing on them. But I emphasize I don't know because we don't know.
#36Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/9/21 at 11:16pmI’m more than happy to have my Excelsior Pass scanned along with my ticket and I hope the powers that be decide it’s in the best interest to do that as well, at least for a year or so.
#37Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 12:06am
Fosse76 said: "Social distancing is still a requirement for now,which is why Broadway isn't opening sooner. The financial conditions of a Broadway show make it impossible to make money if they can't sell every seat."
For like another 4 Days...
And let's be entirely honest, they're not selling every seat even in September. Sure it'll be an OPTION, but it's going to be a SLOW ramp up of people coming back through the end of the year. You're not going to see heavy audiences until the holidays. So yes, they could be having audiences right now. Or next month or August.
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
#38Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 12:46am
HogansHero said: "TheatreFan4 said: "MBFan said: "Are you saying no one will be allowed into a NYC theater ever unless they're vaccinated?"
Is that how it SHOULD be? Yes absolutely. Will it be? No... "
I'm not so sure. Multiple shows are requiring vaccines and, to my knowledge, no Broadway show has said they are not. We have a lot of experience now with baseball, and the segregated test-instead-of-vaccine sections are shrinking dramatically, both because of demand and also because the testing nuisance and expense gets old quickly.My guess is we might see a hybrid on Broadway but we have time to let it shake out. The state is definitely pushing the vaccine only approach because it is good public health strategy."
NY is the only state really pushing this and I think it has a good chance to disappear in the fall if numbers keep trending downward like they are. There have been huge events not requiring to show vaccine proof throughout the country for months now and numbers keep expanding in terms of capacity everywhere for events with tons of places being completely full capacity with no distancing and no masks and no vaccine passports. So far nothing has been linked back to these events in terms of spreading anything.
I know Broadway theatres are smaller so they might require it longer but I see the baseball stadiums and the indoor arenas here dropping this as soon as they are allowed to do so. While not in NY but where a lot of us go, Metlife Stadium, where the Jets and Giants and other large concerts and events happen aren't requiring anything either. NJ just isn't in agreement with NY on this one.
I just really don't see it lasting long as long as vaccination numbers continue to increase and cases/deaths decrease. There just won't be any way to justify doing all this if things keep going the way they are.
Sunny11
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
#39Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 2:59am
What was the method used that reached the conclusion that the events where not spreader events though? Was every customer tested biweekly for a month afterwards?
Many cases are asymptomatic so people may not have realised that they had it. At my hospital every staff member is aggressively tested and young 20/30 something colleagues in particular regularly test positive by surprise.
I have noticed a lot of government and business gaslighting by proclaiming low covid rates when actually their methodology is full of holes.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#40Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 7:14am
And there ARE people, through no fault of their own CAN'T get vaccinated. That's why herd immunity is so important. Those that simply aren't willing? They can go to hell for all I'm concerned about.
ALW is all about $$$. EVERYONE wants theater back, but back safely.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
#41Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 9:32am
Sunny11 said: "What was the method used that reached the conclusion that the events where not spreader events though?Was every customer tested biweekly for a month afterwards?
Many cases are asymptomatic so people may not have realised that they had it. At my hospital every staff member is aggressively tested and young 20/30 something colleagues in particularregularly test positive by surprise.
I have noticed a lot of government and business gaslighting by proclaiming low covid rates when actually their methodology is full of holes."
Not gonna act like I know how they figure all this stuff out but the CDC has ways to track all this stuff and haven't said anything about it happening yet. If it did they would most likely release a report about it like they did with that large motorcycle event Sturgis in South Dakota...
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6947e1.htm
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#42Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 10:21pm
HogansHero said: "Fosse76 said: "Social distancing is still a requirement for now,which is why Broadway isn't opening sooner. The financial conditions of a Broadway show make it impossible to make money if they can't sell every seat."
I am under the impression that social distancing is not required when vaccines are. Is that wrong? Isn't that what the Springsteen show is doing in a couple of weeks?"
That may be correct, but I was responding to the idea that they could just open Broadway now. Since it's not clear that vaccinating would be required for all shows, I was making a general statement.
But I agree that it is likely moot. NY should reach a 70% vaccination rate relatively soon. We appear to be the last state with a fair amount of restrictions still.
#43Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/10/21 at 11:57pm
Fosse76 said: "That may be correct, but I was responding to the idea that they could just open Broadway now. Since it's not clear that vaccinating would be required for all shows, I was making a general statement.
But I agree that it is likely moot. NY should reach a 70% vaccination rate relatively soon. We appear to be the last state with a fair amount ofrestrictions still."
Understood but I guess on the first I would say that Broadway could open at any time with vaccinations. And on the latter, I guess I hope it is not moot whether by rule or in practice. And I am less concerned about being the last with restrictions now than I am about making sure we are the last to need them again in the fall. And it seems like a foregone conclusion that some of those states are going to be back in trouble then. But I digress.
#44Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/11/21 at 5:14pm
JC--How/when did you get to London as I didn't realise flight were open from NY to London? Have you had the 'jab' then and how worried will you be in your hotel and surrounds and in the theatre? Just curious.
We in Australia seem to keep having minor 'surges' and as recently in Melbourne, lock down again and now with less restrictions but theatre capacities are a mess.
Yesterday in Brisbane, Queensland I went to a full capacity, no masks or social distancing[ though was recommended] production of a concert production of Chess. There were 60 in the choir, 30 piece orchestra, 8 Greek chorus working with the principles. It was stunning !!
It was a 2pm show and I went to the box office afterwards and bought a ticket for that night's performance, it was that brilliant.
So fortunate but all could, and has, change in a instant..
#45Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/11/21 at 5:33pm
SweetLips22 said: "Yesterday in Brisbane, Queensland I went to a full capacity, no masks or social distancing[ though was recommended] production of a concert production of Chess. There were 60 in the choir, 30 piece orchestra, 8 Greek chorus working with the principles. It was stunning !!
It was a 2pm show and I went to the box office afterwards and bought a ticket for that night's performance, it was that brilliant.
So fortunate but all could, and has, change in a instant.."
And it has just been announced that Brisbane will (likely) host the 2032 summer Olympic games. Wonder what Brisbane (and the world) will look like over a decade from now. I will be 85 years old then and, if I'm still upright, will attend the games. In the meantime, good wishes to Brisbane.
Non sibi sed patriae
#46Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/11/21 at 7:12pm
SweetLips22 said: "JC--How/when did you get to London as I didn't realise flight were open from NY to London? Have you had the 'jab' then and how worried will you be in your hotel and surrounds and in the theatre? Just curious.
I’m going in a couple weeks. Staying at a hotel and quarantining for 5 days until I can do the “test to release” thing where you take a test and when it’s negative, you can go out into the world.
And there’s flights to the UK - not as many as there usually were but you can still travel there.
#47Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/14/21 at 3:03pm
Apparently the UK PM is talking to ALW about opening Cinderella as a ‘pilot’ event despite an announcement today that officially full capacity events are postponed.
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/boris-johnson-lloyd-webber-cinderella_54272.html
The production have emailed ticket holders saying they are working behind the scenes about what is going to happen, so maybe it’ll work out. At worst maybe they’ll cancel tickets to be under the limit. I’d be surprised if they cancel entire shows at this stage as they’re in rehearsals right now and it’s only meant to be 4 weeks (but anything could happen I guess).
Anyway, hoping that it’ll go ahead. I think getting fixated on these public events to me seems a little like rearranging the deck chairs of the titanic. The UK are already crowding around bars, restaurants, flats and houses without masks. Not to mention that of course cinema and theatres can and many are open right now albeit lower capacity. Are full capacity theatres with masks really going to take it over the edge?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 6/14/21 at 03:03 PM
#48Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/14/21 at 4:07pm
Highland Guy---I will be 87 by then, so if we are both upright, or lying down with a vodka drip, let's meet up and share life stories, then go perve on the swimmers.
#49Andrew Lloyd Webber Threatens to Defy UK Government to Reopen Theatres at Full Capacity
Posted: 6/14/21 at 4:29pm
This all sounds like he’s doing ALW a favor, even though ALW is basically tweeting out “Whaaaat I had no idea I hope we can work something out OMG this is totally news to me”.
But really, a fully masked audience is a lot different than a full capacity night club - I really don’t know why the two things are being compared.
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