COVID-19 Update: March 31, 2020: Reporting from Lockdown.

Greetings: As of today, 75% of the country is sheltering at home. The president says that face masks and ventilators are plentiful; most governors disagree. And it looks like the apex of the pandemic is some time off.

A hopeful sign: New data suggests that social distancing works to limit the number of infections: nyti.ms/3bGo6cu.

But times are tough. As many as 95% of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) below-the-line crafts workers are currently out of work: bit.ly/2JpSTy7.

Alan Merrill, of the group The Arrows, and co-writer of "I Love Rock and Roll," passes away at 69: bit.ly/3dCjNR4.

Adam Schlesinger, member of the band Fountains of Wayne and songwriter for the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and the Broadway musical Cry-Baby, has been hospitalized: bit.ly/3aturHU.

Cruise industry crisis: Two Holland America ships continue to search for a welcoming port: bit.ly/2RfRRJt.

The bigger picture: Check out these photos of the empty Vegas Strip: bit.ly/2R35uvo.

Companies continue to mobilize:

A.C. Lighting is offering a series of training sessions. On April 1, Vista by Chroma-Q: bit.ly/2w2O3Up. On April 2: What is Tracking? bit.ly/39Bnq6t.

ACT Lighting is offering free online training for MA Lighting grandMA users: bit.ly/343vEU6.

Astera Academy launches: bit.ly/2UP6R1M.

British Music Academy moves its showcase online with assistance from Allen & Heath: bit.ly/2R0WM0C.

Clair Global partners with Mountain Productions on connectivity and communications for disaster relief: bit.ly/2JqCHMP.

Gear-Source.com launches a personal protection equipment category: bit.ly/3bGvZ1C.

Harman University hosts a seminar on Microphone Applications for Stage and Sound, on April 1: Register at: bit.ly/3axkJED.

Innovox, the loudspeaker manufacturer, reports that it is building face shields for local senior living communities around the greater Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota area. "Today I picked up an order of face shields for Walker Methodist -- 750 shields crafted to protect the health care teams serving our seniors," said Mary Ryan, corporate director at Walker Methodist Senior Living Facility. "I couldn't hug them, but I will when this whole crisis is over. Bless you Chris and Arnaud of Innovox Systems. Your hands have created a guard to keep our people safe. I am forever grateful and honored to know you. Look for the Helpers. They are Here." Due to material shortages, the team is still determining how many face shields they can assemble but will continue as long as the need and supplies are there.

Martin Professional University is hosting a seminar on Lighting for Churches: Live and Video. Register at: bit.ly/3dJeeQT.

As a way of helping to enhance microphone hygiene, Point Source Audio has added extra windshields into every microphone it sells: bit.ly/2UuwcPE.

TLS Productions shares a fabulous list of online training opportunities: bit.ly/3azRUXQ.

Companies continue to check in:

Ashly Audio has closed its main office. but the company's support team remains available via phone and email, in addition to the new chat option on the website, and at the new toll-free 800 number: 1-800-705-2101. Ashly is shipping all in-stock products for immediate delivery, and many custom configured products will still be available with minor delays. The customer support team is available Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm Eastern via email at service@ashly.com or at the number above. for further details. Ashly University will be kicking off soon. Multiple classes and training sessions will be available each week on a variety of subjects. Classes are available to everyone. Sign-ups will be available on www.ashly.com.

DAS Audio writes "Our operations in Spain are suspended effective immediately from March 30, 2020 until April 14, 2020 (by law). At DAS Audio we have already adopted all the necessary measures so that our colleagues, distributors, suppliers, and family can continue with their lives and agendas without putting your health and ours at risk. You can reach us by phone, email, and video-call platforms, so we can keep in touch and share our passion for this industry."

The latest cancellations and postponements:

AES' Vienna convention, scheduled for May, is off.

Baltimore Center Stage has put off its production of Bakkhai until next season.

The entire Brits Off Broadway season at New York's 59E59 has been cancelled.

Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles has cancelled the rest of its spring season: Diane Paulus-helmed revival of 1776 at the Ahmanson, a revival of Aasif Mandvi's solo show Sakina's Restaurant at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and Rajiv Joseph's LeBron James play King James at the Mark Taper Forum. The revival of 1776 was set to come from ART in Cambridge, Massachusetts; that production has been put off, too.

New York's City Center has cancelled its summer Encores! Off Center season, which presented concert productions of Off Broadway musicals: bit.ly/2JvCEQa.

The newspaper The Guardian will begin streaming productions from London's Hampstead Theatre: bit.ly/3aw9ZWQ.

Manhattan Theatre Club has cancelled its two spring Off Broadway productions: Qui Nguyen's Poor Yella Rednecks and Emily Feldman's The Best We Could (a family tragedy). Both were scheduled to begin performances in May.

The 2020 Michael Merritt Awards and Design Exposition at the Columbia College Chicago's Getz Theatre Center, scheduled for May 18, have been cancelled.

New York's Repertorio Espanol is closed through April 30.

New entertainment opportunities:

The UK's Original Theatre Company is streaming two of its production -- The Croft, by Aline Milles, and The Habit of Art, by Alan Bennett -- for a minimal contribution at bit.ly/2WXyd8p. The company's production of The Habit of Art was scheduled to be seen in New York this spring at 59E59.

Comedian Mike Birbiglia is posting a series of videos with himself and top colleagues, including John Mulraney, to raise money for unemployed bar and club workers at www.tipyourwaitstaff.com/.

Not to be missed:

Durham Marenghi, lighting designer of countless large-scale events and a delightful raconteur, contributes the first of a series of reminiscences. This one, involving a Concorde flyover, a gaggle of soggy VL1s, and gels covered with pigeon guano, is a pip: www.linkedin.com/pulse/story-british-airways-impact-day-durham-marenghi/.

Hang in there, everybody.

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