Coronavirus Update, April 9, 2020: Flickers of Light Edition

The president sees light at the end of the tunnel; experts agree, even if they insist it is not so near: https://tinyurl.com/sdoozd6.

And another 6.6 million people have applied for unemployment for a pandemic total of 17 million: https://tinyurl.com/yxxw8rec.

In New York, a flatter curve comes at a price: https://tinyurl.com/wvb6gp5.

Economic boost: Federal Reserve moves to inject $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy: https://tinyurl.com/to6j4jp.

Not-so-Chinese virus: A new study shows that, in New York at least, most of the viral infections have come from Europe: https://tinyurl.com/wbxbnd4.

Questions abound about the upcoming primaries and election, but one thing is for sure: The president doesn't want you to vote by mail: https://tinyurl.com/vo44y3r.

With a foreshortened season, Broadway grossed much less this year: https://tinyurl.com/u2wwcrn

The latest in learning:

The German loudspeaker manufacturer d&b audiotechnik is offering a variety of webinars on the effective use of its products. Check out the education calendar at https://tinyurl.com/t7tpulh

Sennheiser's Sound Academy has added two more events to its training calendar: On Tuesday, April 14, a virtual roundtable on Mixing Live Sound - Front of House has Brandon Blackwell (Lizzo, A$AP Rocky, Camila Cabello), Brett "Scoop" Blanden (Lady Antebellum), Snake Newton (Harry Styles, Supertramp, Robbie Williams), and Phillip J. Harvey (Lorde, My Bloody Valentine) as panelists. Thursday, April 16 will see a virtual House of Worship Roundtable in which guests Brian Gowing, Chris Huff, Chad Kirkpatrick, and Matt Sales will discuss topics such as virtual services and investment choices. Register for the first at https://tinyurl.com/srsh3ad and for the second at https://tinyurl.com/ud6vdu3

Check out the latest webinar offerings from RCF Audio at https://tinyurl.com/t65fdce

Shure is hosting a webinar on how to improve your webinar audio, a topic of supreme interest these days. It takes place April at 11am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/vyh9awq.

More mobilizing

The actress Taraji P. Henson has created a free virtual therapy services for African Americans stressed out by the pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/rbzcz9v

Companies continue to check in:

ADAM Audio has a full lineup of webinars available at https://tinyurl.com/rchghu7

Bandit Lites recently surpassed more than 120,000 Facebook followers, 54,000 Instagram followers and 16,000 Twitter followers. According to Sharon Gross, the company's media relations coordinator, "On any given week we're seeing nearly one million people reached in the touring industry, from veterans to students, to people who simply like to see the behind-the-scene looks of their favorite artists' tours." In addition to sharing the goings-on in shops and on tours and installations, Bandit's team has made available tips and insights through the blog Bandit Dimmer Beach. Mark Steinwachs, the company's general manager, has written more than 250 posts ranging from programming and design tips to debates on what films make up the best "bus movies," and amassed more than 920,000 views: banditdimmerbeach.com.

Robe was part of the stunning lighting display put on by several Benelux lighting companies on March 22, to honor those fighting on the front lines against the pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/uggwge2

Cancellations and postponements:

The Broadway musical Beetlejuice has officially closed. Originally scheduled to run through June 6, having been evicted the landlord, the Shubert Organization is to make room for the fall revival of The Music Man, starring Hugh Jackman. Rumors abounded, however, that the producers were looking for another theatre. The announcement leaves the door open for such a possibility, but on Broadway today everything is up in the air, so who knows? https://tinyurl.com/teg2gop

The 2020 Boston Pops spring season, which was to take place May 16-June 13, has been canceled due to ongoing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. A near-unprecedented moment in the 135-year history of the Boston Pops, the cancellation of the upcoming season is the first time an entire season of the famed ensemble has been canceled since 1890; that year there were no Boston Pops concerts due to the fact that the managers at the time were unable to procure a liquor license. The BSO is in daily conversations to assess the advisability of proceeding with all its upcoming programming over the next few months, including the 2020 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and the 2020 Tanglewood season.

.For your entertainment:

The fourth rollout of the 24-Hour Monologues features Reed Birney, Wayne Brady, Bill Camp, Crystal Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, Deanna Dunagan, Ben Feldman, Ethan Hawke, Marin Ireland, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Mia Katigbak, Elizabeth Marvel, Portia, Marlo Thomas, Raviv Ullman, and Michael Urie performing pieces by Will Arbery, David Lindsay-Abaire, Max Posner, Sarah Schulman, Betty Shamieh, Jonathan Marc Sherman: https://tinyurl.com/rbomnkv.

"Your Favorite Actors, Their Favorite Shakespeare" is Alabama Shakespeare Festival's virtual Shakespeare monologue project where ASF alumni perform their favorite Shakespeare monologues and share anecdotes of their experiences with the State Theatre. The project is part of ASF's extensive "Play On!" initiative to provide theatre lovers of all ages with performance and educational content online. "This crisis has affected so many of us, particularly theatre artists. Postings will begin on Friday, April 10, via ASF's social media channels and will be available at ASF.net/PlayOn.

The Obie Award-winning Off Broadway theatre HERE announces additional free online programming designed to uplift audiences during these challenging times. These programs include #stillHERE, a weekly Livestream featuring a HERE artist who invites viewers to share in the creation of new work; and HERE@HOME, a weekly watch party that streams full-length productions previously presented at HERE; and #COVIDEO, a sequential, community-built work of video art that is led by HERE artists and staff, and that the public is invited to participate in. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/s8klpyn.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has launched a new website for its one-stop portal to all digital offerings from across its campus, Lincoln Center at Home (#LincolnCenterAtHome). Audiences around the globe can visit LincolnCenter.org to add a wealth of arts offerings to their family's daily calendars. New videos are posted every day. The On Demand section offers content available at any time -- including links to digital archives, access to remote collections, Q+As with artists, workshops, performances, and more.

Off Broadway's Metropolitan Playhouse will livestream a reading of Alice Gerstenberg's 1917 one-act comedy Hearts on April 11, 2020 at 8pm EST. It is available via Zoom and YouTube. Go to: https://tinyurl.com/sn7ksjy. Information about the theater's ARTISTS RELIEF FUND may be found at https://tinyurl.com/unoc6r4