COVID-19 Update: April 29, 2020: Side Effects

Good morning: There are now a million cases of the coronavirus in the US, and more Americans have died from it -- in three months -- than in the ten years of the Vietnam War.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus is producing economic side effects:

The country's gross domestic product fell by 4.8% in the first quarter: tinyurl.com/ybct8thm.

And the future is looking, well, difficult: tinyurl.com/yabq4m3h.

Meanwhile:

The president, finally citing the Defense Production Act, will order meat processing plants to remain open: tinyurl.com/y7r88skr.

Briefing books reveal that the president was briefed repeatedly on the coronavirus threat in January and February: tinyurl.com/ycntwpjh.

Illinois' death toll reaches new heights: tinyurl.com/y95uuvlv.

Pfizer is bullish about developing a vaccine in record time: tinyurl.com/y9vltcyp.

Air travel is changing: tinyurl.com/ybnxoynb.

In California:

Governor Gavin Newsom says the reopening of cinemas is months away: tinyurl.com/y7q6tzmh.

AMC Theatres cuts ties to Universal, over the latter's decision to simultaneously release films to cinemas and home viewers, even after the pandemic is over: tinyurl.com/ycdnk5b9.

The head of the National Association of Theatre Owners discusses reopening plans: tinyurl.com/y73x95pc.

For the first time, the Academy Awards will consider films not released in theatres: tinyurl.com/yaradphq.

In Europe:

Czech cinemas are set to be the first to reopen in Europe: tinyurl.com/ycrx2kp7.

In the UK:

The BBC says that the coronavirus-caused shortage of scripts will lead to more co-productions: tinyurl.com/y9kzlyj5.

In Vegas:

The Venetian's reopening plan includes EMTs on-site and thermal cameras: tinyurl.com/ycuphf2o.

Boyd Gaming, owner of The Orleans, Sam's Town, and Main Street Station, among others, reports an 18% drop in revenue: tinyurl.com/y7oa3u7c.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is looking at guidelines for reopening casinos: tinyurl.com/yba9k8zh.

Mobilizing:

Billboard has a copy of the memo from 19 signatories, including AEG, Live Nation, and The Broadway League, which asks Congress to expand the Paycheck Protection Act to entertainment companies with 500 or fewer employees and an expansion of loans to mid-sized businesses: tinyurl.com/yas78hnw. Forbes Magazine argues that without federal help, the entertainment business is going to have a hard time: tinyurl.com/y7kuuxlh.

Losses:

Downtown theatre set designer Jun Maeda: lamama.org/jun-maeda/. Bruce Myers, an actor with Peter Brook's troupe: tinyurl.com/ydgtxag9.

Training:

On the next d&b audiotechnik, live event, Tony David Cray, Grammy Award-winning recording engineer and head of recording and broadcast at Sydney Opera House, will be chatting to Ralf Zuleeg, d&b sales services, and application engineering. The event takes place on April 30. Cray and Zuleeg will discuss Cray's experience as an engineer, how he's used d&b Soundscape in the past, and what he is working on in his studio at the moment. There will also be an opportunity for viewers to ask their audio questions. Join d&b audiotechnik and Tony David Cray on Instagram by following @dbaudiotechnik_gmbh bit.ly/Instagram-dbaudio. The full list of d&b events can be found at tinyurl.com/yayjnccj.

New Harman webinars: "Color Theory for Concert Lighting Design" on April 30 and May 1. Register at: tinyurl.com/yda24v4t. "Overview of Martin ERA Series," on May 7: tinyurl.com/yd7t2ueu.

Registration is open for AES Virtual Vienna Convention: tinyurl.com/y8cczkrv.

Scheduling/rescheduling:

The West End musical Everyone's Talking About Jamie has canceled its Australian tour: tinyurl.com/y6wkhpsx.

The French-language musical Notre Dame de Paris has moved its opening to 2022: tinyurl.com/yamk8x4w.

Entertainment:

Ailey All Access, the streaming site for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, is currently offering Ailey's Night Creatures. Next up, starting tomorrow, is Ode, Jamar Roberts' acclaimed new piece: tinyurl.com/y7hxvdxp.

Scheduled for May 11, A Shining Light is an online benefit concert for the theatre company The Civilians. Hosted by Jo Lampert, the event features Cindy Cheung, Eddie Cooper, Molly Hager, Jason Butler Harner, Van Hughes, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Lesli Margherita, Grace McLean, Alex Newell, Duncan Sheik, Jill Sobule, Mary Testa, and more to be announced. Also, an auction featuring compelling, one-of-a-kind experiences from artists like Anne Washburn, Sam Pinkleton, Linda Cho, and more. To see these artist's unique offerings, go to tinyurl.com/y8dao5bp. Tickets for the concert have no minimum price; to purchase them, go to tinyurl.com/ya8ezzvt.

The Goodman Theatre has canceled its production of A Paris Love Story, starring the actor/pianist Hershey Felder. But Felder will offer a livestream performance from Florence, Italy on Mother's Day, May 10 of his solo piece about Irving Berlin. The performance is viewable on Internet-enabled home and handheld devices and features an audience participation opportunity via text or email. Trevor Hay directs. A benefit for the Goodman, tickets are $50 per household. You can purchase them at tinyurl.com/y974z4g3.

Over 50 leading and emerging actors and playwrights have united for The Homebound Project, a new independent, online theater initiative created to help feed children affected by COVID-19. Founded by playwright Catya McMullen and director Jenna Worsham, The Homebound Project is theatre made to raise funds for nonprofit organizations working at the forefront of the pandemic. Each edition features a collection of 10 new theatre works, written by homebound playwrights and recorded by sheltering actors. View-at-home tickets begin at a donation level of $10, with all proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry, www.nokidhungry.org/ a national campaign helping to feed countless children living with hunger. The Homebound Project is currently scheduled to include three editions, with each collection of new works available to stream over a strictly limited four-day period. The first edition will stream online beginning at 7:00pm on Wednesday, May 6 until 7:00pm on Sunday, May 10. Subsequent editions will air May 20 - 24 and June 3 - 7. Tickets to the first collection are now available at homeboundtheater.org/. Among those involved are actors Christopher Abbott, William Jackson Harper, Jessica Hecht, Marin Ireland, Alison Pill, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Thomas Sadoski, and Amanda Seyfried in pieces by Lucy Thurber, Qui Nguyen, Max Posner, Sarah Ruhl, C. A. Johnsons, Rajiv Joseph, and Marina Majok.

Jazz at Lincoln Center has a concert celebrating Ella Fitzgerald: tinyurl.com/y6wrgzhc.

Off Broadway's Metropolitan Playhouse will present COVID Cabaret with Zero Boy, starring the downtown performer on April 30 at 8:00pm ET. The 30-minute show will be available via Zoom and YouTube at tinyurl.com/sn7ksjy. Metropolitan Playhouse will also present a reading of Alice Gerstenberg's one-act comedy Fourteen, and Rachel Crothers's one-act drama Criss Cross, via live stream video on Saturday, May 2 at 8:00pm ET. Running time is 35 minutes, with talkback to follow. The program will also be simultaneously broadcast on WBAI Radio 99.5 FM.

The latest round of the 24-Hour Plays: Viral Monologues features, among others, Dane DeHaan, Crystal Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, Minnie Driver, Michael Esper, Santino Fontana, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Justin Kirk, Ashley Park, Rita Wilson, and Alison Wright in new pieces by the likes of Lemon Anderson, Pascale Armand, Courtney Baron, David Cote, Kristoffer Diaz, David Lindsay-Abaire, Craig Lucas, Catya McMullen, Marsha Norman, and Anna Ziegler: tinyurl.com/yaumlj6h.

For your pleasure:

Lighting designer and raconteur Durham Marenghi on the night he learned that no lighting plan survives the first contact with a helicopter's downwash. Bonus: a stunning reimagining of Puccini's Nessun Dorma, featuring the London Concert Orchestra and tenor Wynne Davies, in tribute to workers in the UK's National Health Service: tinyurl.com/ya4lt99b.

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