COVID-19 Update: May 18, 2020: The Patchwork Approach

Welcome to the ninth week. There are now 89,567 Americans dead from the coronavirus.

Across the country, cities are opening up, with varied results: tinyurl.com/ya8jdzn5.

The House of Representatives passes a $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill; the GOP pronounces it dead on arrival in the Senate: tinyurl.com/ybar2vey.

The president is confident that a widely available vaccine is coming by the end of the year; scientists disagree: tinyurl.com/ya5h2wjb.

As the nations supporting the World Health Organization meet online, countries call for an investigation into the response to the pandemic, with an eye on China: tinyurl.com/y9dvn4hv.

The White House blames the pandemic on the CDC. Or people with pre-existing conditions. Or somebody: tinyurl.com/y8xwr3bf.

Meanwhile:

Could llama antibodies be the key to defeating the coronavirus? tinyurl.com/y9c3ey9g. Also, the firm Moderna reports promising results from its vaccine: tinyurl.com/yc7vdzxf.

One reason COVID-19 has devastated older populations is law-breaking nursing home chains like this: tinyurl.com/yb8joaxo.

All at sea: Inside the limbo life of 100,000 cruise ship crews, left onboard by the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y8wbej66.

US cinemas are slowly reopening: tinyurl.com/y9lnhojf.

NASCAR and professional golf are coming back, as are other sports, without fans in attendance: tinyurl.com/ya33ae2m. Professional Bull Riders will allow audiences at an event in July: tinyurl.com/y953osn4.

Airports at looking at high-tech defenses against the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/ycauqhfz.

Around the world, the pandemic is reshaping cities, driving efforts to get rid of cars and increase space for pedestrians and cyclists: tinyurl.com/y7dhav7b.

Food for thought:

Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the importance of staying the course: tinyurl.com/y9mzuh9n.

An economist and a manufacturer of surgical gear have a plan to end the lockdown by July 4, if anyone will listen: tinyurl.com/y83l94sn.

Theatre artist Caridad Savich says that with venues shut down, it's time to get creative: tinyurl.com/y8yyhaj8.

Don't miss this compelling video, from the Live Events Coalition, which dramatizes the industry's dilemma at this moment: tinyurl.com/ybgze62t.

The biggest challenges keeping Broadway from reopening when New York comes back: tinyurl.com/y9kvctsv. Three possible scenarios for Broadway reopening: tinyurl.com/y87x638w.

What socially distanced performance might look like: tinyurl.com/y6uwa7bw.

Around the country:

In Arizona:

Five Phoenix-area casinos open up, with patrons banging down the doors at 9:00am: tinyurl.com/yb6ktvcj.

In California:

SeaWorld is sued by a pass holder for continuing to collect fees while closed: tinyurl.com/y7krqkws.

The governor asks San Diego's tribal governments to reconsider the decision to reopen their casinos: tinyurl.com/y8c6s7cn.

In Florida:

The Disney Organization and unions have worked out a deal for employee safety that will speed the reopening of Disney World: tinyurl.com/y9n5ub5d.

In New Hampshire:

A music venue experiments with a drive-in concert: tinyurl.com/yaexxwgo.

In New York:

State-run beaches will open for Memorial Day, but New York City beaches will remain closed: tinyurl.com/y7qp6pta.

Mayor Bill de Blasio lowers the boom on those violating social distance restrictions: tinyurl.com/y9gexkcp.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

As infections spread, the health minister resigns, after a month on the job: tinyurl.com/yago4tve.

In Sao Paulo, the hospitals are overwhelmed: tinyurl.com/yc8ufws3.

In Canada:

Could a combination of pre-existing problems and the pandemic spell curtains for Cirque du Soleil? It doesn't help that Moody's has downgraded the company's stock to near-junk status: tinyurl.com/y7n5dq6g.

The country's theatres plot possible comeback strategies: tinyurl.com/yc69y8m6.

In the UK:

Can dogs be trained to sniff out COVID-19? tinyurl.com/y9rbefyj.

London's Globe Theatre is facing "extinction" without financial relief: tinyurl.com/ybz5oetr.

Losses:

Jimmy Glenn, former boxer and owner of theatre district dive bar Jimmy's Corner: tinyurl.com/ycm4kk8a.

Noted Argentinian dancer Luis A. Frias: tinyurl.com/ybw3mztd.

Training:

OSHA will hold a webinar on its recently released Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, which provides specific action steps employers should take to address the global pandemic. Expert Joe Keenan will explain best practices for developing and implementing effective business continuity and pandemic response plans, identifying and providing appropriate PPE to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It happens May 28 at 12:00pm ET. Register at tinyurl.com/yck85mbz.

On May 19 at 1:30pm ET, the Sennheiser SoundAcademy hosts David Missall and Brian Walker have invited Leslie Ann Jones, Michael Romanowski, Steve Genewick, Jim Anderson, and Ulrike Anderson to discuss the topic. The five industry experts will discuss their approach to recording, mixing, and mastering the immersive sound experience, and share their views on how immersive audio can help open up new creative possibilities and connect listeners more intimately with music. Register at tinyurl.com/ybkzngua.

Company news:

From Atlanta-based Magnum:

"We really thought we were ready to open this past Monday, but over the weekend we made the tough decision to wait one more week and see how things looked.

"Georgia was the first state to lift the stay-at-home order, and no one really knew what that would do to the COVID-19 cases here, so instead of bringing everyone back, we decided to give it another week.

"As of now, the cases are still dropping here, so we're going to start the process of slooowly reopening next Monday (5/18/20). We will be monitoring the situation and will proceed with the utmost caution.

"Before bringing our employees back into the offices and warehouse, we put together strict Post COVID-19 Protocols. Head to our website to see our guideline www.magnumco.com, or download a pdf version at tinyurl.com/y9a92adb.

"Our top priority is the safety of our employees and our clients."

USITT has approved a change in the association's bylaws to allow members to pay their dues either monthly or annually. Monthly memberships begin at only $7 for student members and top out at $15 for professional members. All individual memberships can now be paid on a monthly basis. New members may choose to begin their membership on a monthly basis, current members may convert their annual membership to monthly subscriptions, if they desire, when their current membership expires. Individuals can join or renew online at www.usitt.org/membership for either membership option. New members will be required to create an account and all members who choose the monthly option must store a payment method on our secure site.

Scheduling:

Wisconsin's American Players Theatre has canceled its summer season: tinyurl.com/y93xzwnb.

The national tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical has closed: tinyurl.com/yb95huvp.

Maroon 5's spring/summer tour is off until 2021: tinyurl.com/y7f6mkqw.

The summer season at Tanglewood Music Center has been canceled; however, patrons can access a variety of free and paid content will be available in July and August. Details to come.

Entertainment:

Germany's Berliner Ensemble is streaming a 1957 production of Mother Courage, starring Helene Weigel, wife of playwright Bertolt Brecht and widely regarded as the most authoritative interpreter of his works. It's in German with no subtitles, but if you know the play this is a golden opportunity: tinyurl.com/ya5tvrl5.

Tonight at 7:00pm BroadwayCon interviews Broadway set designer David Korins: tinyurl.com/y9wmsarx.

Ma-Yi Theatre Company is streaming Lonnie Carter's The Romance of Magno Rubio, winner of eight Obie Awards in a production filmed live in Manila, May 25 - June 4: tinyurl.com/ybee35xh.

The latest offering in Playwrights Horizons Soundstage series is Outtakes, by Qui Nguyen, author of the acclaimed play Viet Gone: tinyurl.com/ycflzwka.

Tonight at 7:30pm ET, Off Broadway's Red Bull Theater presents a free reading of Coriolanus, which the company presented to great acclaim in 2016. The reading reunites original cast members Lisa Harrow, Merritt Janson, Dion Johnstone, Aaron Krohn, Patrick Page, and Stephen Spinella, among others. Go to: www.redbulltheater.com/live.

A new website, Thespie, will stream plays, interviews, and more: tinyurl.com/y7stz662.

Theatre for a New Audience and the Fisher Center at Bard are streaming the Bard College Theater & Performance Program production of Caryl Churchill's Mad Forest, created by experimental theater and opera director Ashley Tata and performed and broadcast live online for free using a specially modified version of Zoom, Friday, May 22 (7:00pm EST), Sunday, May 24 (5:00pm EST), and Wednesday, May 27 (3:00pm EST). RSVP in advance is required to view each performance. Details for how to access the stream are available at www.tfana.org.

For your pleasure:

More than 150 alumni of Hairspray remind us that you can't stop the beat: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgIJLlBFUI&feature=youtu.be. Remember The Actors Fund.

That's all for today. Stay safe.

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