COVID-19 Update: May 20, 2020: "A badge of honor"

The above words are how the president characterizes the huge number of US deaths form the coronavirus, which today has reached 91,983: tinyurl.com/y86quajt.

Steven Mnuchin defends the administration's reopening policy to a testy Senate committee: tinyurl.com/yau9737u.

And the lies about hydroxychloroquine continue to flow: tinyurl.com/ydyrqly7.

Meanwhile:

A new survey reveals that 87% of American nurses are working under dangerous conditions, forced to reuse PPE: tinyurl.com/y8sef3hb.

"Why are you Chinese people killing everyone?" Asian-American medical professions face bigotry on and off the job: tinyurl.com/ybja3tcc.

Better late than never? After every state starts to reopen, the CDC releases its guidelines for reopening: tinyurl.com/y87rocoq.

Cinemas are reopening, but 70% of Americans would rather see new films at home: tinyurl.com/ydfzp44h.

IATSE endorses Joe Biden for president: tinyurl.com/ycdrea5f.

IATSE has also hired a trio of epidemiologists to consult on getting back to work: tinyurl.com/yarghqdj.

Why public bathrooms are a stumbling block to opening theatres, restaurants stores, and other venues: tinyurl.com/ycu7xpca.

Get ready for the US' first drive-in concert tour: tinyurl.com/y89kfmz4.

Food for thought:

Twenty-five top theatre minds ponder what the theatre will look like post-pandemic -- including new aesthetic approaches, more inclusion, and cleaner dressing rooms: tinyurl.com/y95s4wd5.

Without minimizing the challenges, a Guardian columnist says the arts can come back stronger than ever: tinyurl.com/y7tq7f2a.

Architect/set designer David Rockwell creates a template to make outdoor dining feasible: tinyurl.com/y7o3zcs4.

Around the country:

In California:

LA County says retail and restaurants won't open before July 4: tinyurl.com/y8ko4o88.

The 2021 Academy Awards ceremony will most likely be postponed: tinyurl.com/y8xozgzc.

The patrons pile in as tribal casinos in San Diego County reopen. "I'm a religious person," says one of them. "I believe when my number comes, my number comes:" tinyurl.com/y9wvn2s3.

In Florida:

As the Disney Springs shopping complex reopens, the Disney Organization is crystal clear: Proceed at your own risk: tinyurl.com/y76vq7ns.

The woman in charge of the state's COVID-19 data says she was fired for not censoring data: tinyurl.com/ycstqyxx.

In New York:

A plan to disinfect Broadway theatres -- using drones: tinyurl.com/y7bjfng5.

In Vegas:

Three major casino companies will start testing employees before allowing them back to work: tinyurl.com/yd2chs5j.

The Venetian Hotel Casino is expected to open in June: tinyurl.com/ybv4mlu9.

Mobilizing:

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS announced that it has sent $5 million from its COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund to The Actors Fund. Broadway Cares' $5 million represents nearly half of what The Actors Fund has awarded in just two months to more than 9,300 entertainment professionals.

Andrew Lloyd Webber raises $500,000 for The Actors Fund through streaming: tinyurl.com/yd6gzo6d.

Company/association news:

From Opera America: "Thanks to the generosity and consideration of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, OPERA America, the national advocate and service organization for opera, is pleased to announce a dues waiver for fiscal year 2021 for all current organizational members and individual artists. At a time when the entire field is under tremendous financial pressure, this waiver will enable members to remain united and informed through the coming year.

"The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the opera field has been tremendous, with the cancellation of over 1,000 performances of more than 250 productions, and the loss of more than $100 million in box office revenue through the end of August. Numerous world-premiere productions have been canceled or postponed, along with over 2,000 education and community programs. Over 10,000 artists have lost engagements.

"All Opera America organizational members and individual artist members who are current as of June 30, 2020, will be eligible for an extended year of membership at no cost. Organizations that are not already Opera America members will be welcome to join the organization in the course of the year, free of charge."

Scheduling:

La Jolla Music Society has postponed its summer season: tinyurl.com/ydz6xjzm.

Entertainment:

Today at 5:30pm EST, you can stream The Sentinels, a one-act play by Matthew Lopez (Broadway and London's The Inheritance) starring Jane Alexander, Katrina Lenk, Dene´e Benton, and Priscilla Lopez. It's free at tinyurl.com/yckfkp22.

Obie Award-winner Metropolitan Playhouse will present a free "screened" reading of Alice Gerstenberg's The Potboiler, a comedy about the theatre, via livestream video, with talkback to follow, on Saturday, May 23, at 8:00pm, EST. The running time is 40 minutes A talkback follows, including audience questions. The event is available via Zoom and YouTube: and tinyurl.com/sn7ksjy. The program will also be simultaneously broadcast on WBAI Radio 99.5 FM and www.wbai.org.

Starting May 22, you can stream Puffs, the long-running Off Broadway spoof of all things Harry Potter: tinyurl.com/yb9bjjtu.

For your pleasure:

Adventures in global lighting design -- many of them life-threatening -- with Durham Marenghi: durhamld.com/2020/05/18/under-arrest/.

That's all for today. Stay safe.

To receive your LSA copies at home (no charge), please email LSA@plasa.org or go to www.ezsubscription.com/lsa/mysubscription.