COVID Update, May 14, 2021: Broadway Revival

Change is in the air: The CDC's announcement that the vaccinated don't need to wear masks most of the time signals a major step on the road back to normalcy. The approval of vaccines for young people aged 12 - 15 is another milestone. Also, this week, Broadway shifts in high gear, with shows announcing reopening dates beginning September 14. The announcement of the Lollapalooza Festival this summer is another signal. We're not out of the woods: India continues to be a heartbreaking disaster. The fate of the Olympics hangs in the balance. There's much more vaccination to be done. And not every last medical professional is happy with the CDC. Still, hopes haven't been this high since -- when?

The latest:

The CDC says the vaccinated no longer need to wear masks or employ six-foot distancing in most situations: tinyurl.com/jzfncbfk. Here's guidance on where you still have to wear masks: tinyurl.com/v59tsjn4. Epidemiologists are surprised and not necessarily pleased by the announcement: tinyurl.com/t48chxb4.

Increasingly, proof of vaccinations is providing access to clubs, gyms, and sports events: tinyurl.com/49rba2sr.

The FDA approves use of the Pfizer vaccine in young people ages 12 - 15: tinyurl.com/5c2jpa29. The CDC also approves the plan: tinyurl.com/4v7rwc2j. Now comes the race vaccinate them: tinyurl.com/mz943bb4.

Steel yourself for the possibility of booster shots in the next year or so: tinyurl.com/37b8ztmb. But they will be free: tinyurl.com/kn427cv2.

The EU pushes back against President Biden's proposal to waive vaccine patents: tinyurl.com/y4euchmu. Instead, the EU says, the EU should stop blocking exports of vaccine: tinyurl.com/yncaj2e3. Pope Francis weighs in, also supporting waiving patents: tinyurl.com/5u6pssjf.

The World Health Organization authorizes emergency use of the Chinese Sinovax vaccine, adding a new weapon in the global fight against the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/awsjcy9b.

Some Pacific nations are lagging in vaccinations -- not for lack of supply -- and infections are rising: tinyurl.com/4r5u3z8d.

Cinemas reopen in France, Italy, and the UK: tinyurl.com/9n57c3dj.

Are pandemic benefits causing the jobless to stay at home? We'll find out as certain governors slash benefits: tinyurl.com/nh6pmcnd.

As demand for vaccines falls across the US, some states are declining new shipments: tinyurl.com/u65yt35c.

Dr. Fauci says that it is time to take a more liberal line on indoor mask-wearing, at least under certain conditions: tinyurl.com/vz66wpth.

After a week in operation, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant has plenty of cash to distribute: tinyurl.com/4xtaz6vt. The Small Business Administration expects Save Our Stages money to start reaching independent venue operators starting next week: tinyurl.com/y9e5t8f6.

McDonald's joins the campaign to get everyone vaccinated: tinyurl.com/u6xu3a25.

The National Independent Venue Association and Event Safety Alliance have developed Safe in Sound, a checklist for reopening live events venues: tinyurl.com/frfzabac.

Food for thought:

As schools reopen, many parents are hesitant to send their kids: tinyurl.com/2v7xxpyy.

Around the country:

In California:

San Francisco Opera develops a new mask to protect singers: tinyurl.com/ez647n2a.

The Hollywood Bowl announces a summer season: tinyurl.com/2y27pwj5.

In Florida:

The Orlando theme parks ease up on social distancing and cut out temperature checks: tinyurl.com/9zy8jzcw. Disney World will increase its capacity beyond the current 35%: tinyurl.com/4mkud9vs.

In Illinois:

Lollapalooza gets the green light for a four-day festival this summer: tinyurl.com/ekv3hbc8.

Northwestern University will require students to be vaccination: tinyurl.com/48n6tsfu.

In Massachusetts:

The state will hold onto mask requirements for now: tinyurl.com/5wbhfw25.

In New York:

Broadway's three biggest hits -- Hamilton, The Lion King, and Wicked, will reopen on September 14: tinyurl.com/h576kdwy. The long-running musical Come from Away will reopen September 21: tinyurl.com/syvtzam8. The Off Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors also returns on September 21: tinyurl.com/ase3y5jt. Moulin Rouge! returns September 24: tinyurl.com/yw3776f5. Aladdin reopens September 28: tinyurl.com/4xxv3keh. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical returns October 8: tinyurl.com/3y4m9xtc. Ain't Too Proud returns October 16: tinyurl.com/dj35j3wc. The musical Mrs. Doubtfire, which had barely begun previews when lockdown began, will return October 21: tinyurl.com/3hzsrjem. Jagged Little Pill also returns October 21: tinyurl.com/vc2ays9t. Broadway's Roundabout Theatre Company returns with new productions of Caroline or Change, opening October 27, and Trouble in Mind, opening November 18: tinyurl.com/dj35j3wc. Lincoln Center Theater returns with two shows -- Flying Over Sunset begins previews November 4 for a December 6 opening, and Intimate Apparel begins previews on January 13 for an opening on January 27: tinyurl.com/mj7uukvm. Dear Evan Hansen returns on December 11: tinyurl.com/873ymuu2. The revival of Company, also shut down in previews, will return on December 20: tinyurl.com/baf6avps. MJ, a new musical about Michael Jackson, begins previews December 20, for February 1 opening: tinyurl.com/33e6n526.

Hamilton will require everyone working the show to be vaccinated. Will other productions follow? tinyurl.com/vahrnec2.

Metropolitan Opera stagehands hold a protest against their pandemic-caused lockout by management: tinyurl.com/4n6xr5yf.

Pop-up vaccination stations are coming to New York City transit hubs and subway stations: tinyurl.com/36sdueev.

A microbrewery in Buffalo is handing out free brewskis with Moderna shots: tinyurl.com/5bp489cc.

The New York Yankees now have seven confirmed cases of COVID among coaches and support staff: tinyurl.com/yx37u4rb.

In Ohio:

Governor DeWine is luring people to get their shots with promises of shot at lottery winnings and full-ride college scholarships: tinyurl.com/6zaejckr.

In Texas:

Houston Grand Opera announces live and in-person performances for its 2021 - 22 season: tinyurl.com/v96zcd24.

In Utah:

The Sundance Film Festival will present a hybrid live/online event January 20 - 30: tinyurl.com/akjxspe9.

Around the world:

In Canada:

Cirque du Soleil, fighting its way back from the pandemic and bankruptcy protection, looks to the future: tinyurl.com/4f4ena92.

In Germany:

The Berlin Film Festival will go forward in person in June: tinyurl.com/5ycubvut.

In Italy:

The Venice Film Festival will be entirely in person this year: tinyurl.com/pchpe4wv.

In India:

The nation's COVID crisis is thwarting its ability to produce vaccines for itself and the world: tinyurl.com/amz766by.

The prestigious medical journal The Lancet blasts Prime Minister Modi's handling of the pandemic: tinyurl.com/da5hxv7a.

Even as hospitals run out of beds and oxygen is hard to find, millions crowd the banks of the Ganges River for a religious ceremony. On Friday 414,000 new infections were reported: tinyurl.com/3uzyusv8.

The country's situation verges on the apocalyptic, with riots and bodies washing up on the shore of the Ganges: tinyurl.com/cy4cupjp.

In Japan:

Nearly 60% of the population wants the Olympics to be canceled: tinyurl.com/cfvkhpcu.

In the Netherlands:

Researchers are innovating a new rapid coronavirus test involving...honeybees: tinyurl.com/k7xpxsty.

In the UK:

British Airways trials a new 25-second COVID test that prove to be a massive game-changer for the travel industry: tinyurl.com/jzh5hb7d.

Education:

The 4Wall Sunday Roundtable Episode 44 welcomes stage managers from Broadway, ballet, concerts, events, and music festivals. The discussion will include a deep dive into what their jobs entail, what they are doing during the shutdown, and their role in restarting the live entertainment industry. It streams live May 16 at 6:00pm EST on 4Wall's Facebook Live and YouTube page, and will remain available afterwards.

New webinar from Green Hippo: Automating Your Content and Media Playback, May 19 at 10:00am ET; register at tinyurl.com/ca2xhvje.

Entertainment:

From Boston Symphony Orchestra, Thursday, May 20, at noon and available through June 19: A Tribute to John Williams stars the Pops and Keith Lockhart: www.BSO.org/now.

Today through May 20, Carnegie Hall streams conductor Herbert von Karajan leading the Berliner Philharmoniker in Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Alexis Weissenberg at the Berlin Philharmonie. The concert was record in 1967: www.carnegiehall.org.

Herding Cats by Lucinda Coxon will stream May 19 - 22. The cast includes Jassa Ahluwalia, Gerg Germann, Sophie Melville. Tickets start $2: tinyurl.com/yxwvjc8d.

MCC Theater's gala Miscast 21, will feature Gavin Creel, Aaron Tveit, Annaleigh Ashford, Robin de Jesús, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Cheyenne Jackson, LaChanze, Idina Menzel, Kelli O'Hara, Billy Porter, Patrick Wilson, and more, all singing songs from roles in which they would not traditionally be cast. The event is free, but donations are cheerfully accepted: mcctheater.org/tix/miscast21/.

From May 20-23, Ma-Yi Theater Company will present a benefit reading of Daniel K. Isaac's Once Upon A (korean) Time. The cast includes Diana Oh, Jon Norman Schneider, James Seol, David Shih, Shannon Tyo, Jeena Yi, and Isaac as the narrator. It will stream from 7:00pm ET on May 20 until 7:00pm ET on May 23. Tickets, priced $5-$50, can be purchased at ma-yitheatre.org/.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents a free livestreamed reading with talkback to follow of Her Opinion of His Story, by William Dean Howells. It runs May 15 at 8:00pm ET through May 19 at 10:00pm ET. Running time is one hour: www.MetropolitanPlayhouse.org/watchheropinion.

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre presents John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen, adapted by John R. Briggs, with translation by Rolf Fjelde. The cast includes Ernest Abuba in the title role. The free virtual Zoom presentation is set for May 14 at 6:00pm ET.

Red Bull Theater presents a live online presentation of Ben Jonson's Sejanus, His Fall on May 17 at 7:30pm ET. The cast includes Shirine Babb, Kate Burton, Grantham Coleman, Keith David, Manoel Feliciano, Denis O'Haire, Laila Robins, Liv Rooth, Stephen Spinella, and Tamara Tunie: www.redbulltheater.com.

Roundabout Theatre Company streams a reading of Spunk, by Zora Neale Hurston, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, May 14 - 17: tinyurl.com/2vta5p9z.

Vineyard Theatre presents a reading starring Joe Morton and Sally Murphy in Cornelius Eady's Brutal Imagination. Directed by Joe Morton, it includes video design by Jared Mezzocchi and is available for on demand streaming from May 20 - June 3. Tickets start at $25: tinyurl.com/mb2eecc7.

Weekend Playlist:

The inimitable Elaine Stritch takes ownership of Stephen Sondheim's "I'm Still Here:" tinyurl.com/4fab62fd.

Check out this kicky outdoor dance piece set to "Fly Me to the Moon," with vocals by Patti Austin and Joe Daversa on the trumpet. The dancers are from Alonzo King LINES Ballet and San Francisco Ballet: tinyurl.com/yhh3fjj6.

A Bob Dylan Mother's Day tribute: The cast of Girl from the North Country offers "Make You Feel My Love:" tinyurl.com/4danxb3m.

David Byrne and St. Vincent team up for "Who:" tinyurl.com/34mjeczu.

Carmen Cusack offers "Sun is Gonna Shine," By Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, from Bright Star: tinyurl.com/s7rukfs.

That's all for the week. Have a great weekend. Stay safe. Vaccinate. -DB

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