COVID-19 Update, April 6, 2020: The Long Week Ahead

Good morning. The Surgeon General warns us about the long week ahead: cnn.it/3dZk9l3. The president continues to tout, without evidence, the wonders of hydroxychloroquine: cnn.it/3c0fcqp. Boris Johnson is in the hospital, reportedly on oxygen: wapo.st/2UM8nmn. And, in New Jersey, the Meadowlands is being made into a field hospital: 7ny.tv/2Xfhgqq.

A government-appointed watchdog finds the nation's hospital critically lacking gear and lumbered by confusing and ever-shifting government guidelines: nbcnews.to/2XaD32p.

Hope on the horizon: "European nations most ravaged by the new coronavirus have reported encouraging signs in their fight against the deadly pandemic, as the United States braced for what may be its 'hardest' week:" bit.ly/3aNb8cX.

This news is causing stock markets to rally: bit.ly/2XbNbI2.

In the UK, the Queen shows world politicians how it is done: tinyurl.com/tnttq5h.

Meanwhile:

The Kennedy Center comes in for criticism for accepting $25 million from the government -- and furloughing hundreds of employees: wapo.st/2JKCHrq.

In a possible preview of legal actions to come, an investigation is being launched in Australia into Carnival Cruise Lines' handling of the Ruby Princess, which disembarked in Sydney, releasing many infected passengers into the general population: bit.ly/2xVTBQV.

While US governors struggle to get enough medical gear, a more local approach in Germany is paying dividends: bit.ly/39Ku8HG.

Joe Tsai, the billionaire co-founder of Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba (and owner of the Brooklyn Nets), and his wife Clara Wu Tsai, have donated 2.6 million masks, 170,000 goggles and 2,000 ventilators to New York: cnn.it/2JHU4Jt.

Come September: The Venice Film Festival will not be digital: tinyurl.com/wvx9oxu.

Musician Christopher Cross calls coronavirus "possibly the worst illness I've ever had:" cnn.it/39TimuJ. Duran Duran's John Taylor is reporting his recovery: bit.ly/3dYRRHl.

Losses: Actress and biographer Patricia Bosworth: bit.ly/2RgetJP. Vincent Lionti, member of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra: bit.ly/39JfBfn.

Rob Weiner-Kendt, editor of the magazine American Theatre, thinks long and hard about what is happening to theatre artists: bit.ly/2XdAXPm.

Canadian theatre critic Karen Fricker looks at how some theatre artists are getting by: bit.ly/2XfSfv8.

Brittany Bronson, a Las Vegas-based writer wonders what is next for her city: nyti.ms/2UNgoYv.

On the mobilization front:

The Activity, which provides production and design services for the entertainment industry, has put together an extended list of relief resources for touring personnel. It may be the most complete that we've seen: the-activity.com/.

ETCP-certified technicians, in collaboration with IATSE, are stepping up to provide much-needed technical assistance in the development of emergency field hospitals: bit.ly/39OAO7E.

Master FX will be donating 100% of the profits for every "The Show Must Go On" shirt sold to the Crew Nation Fund from now until May 1st. The Crew Nation Fund helps support live music crews who have been directly impacted by economic hardships. Proceeds will benefit all the backstage staff that help bring concerts to life including tour managers, production managers, riggers, sound engineers, backline techs, lighting directors/designers, special effects teams, carpenters, and more. To purchase a T-shirt, go to bit.ly/2xV3cYg.

The Max's Kansas City Project, a 501c3 nonprofit established in 2001,which provides grants to distressed artists, reports being overwhelmed by requests, You can learn more, and give, at www.maxkansascity.org.

Broadway stars Gideon Glick and Celia Keenan-Bolger cook up a way to help feed the staff at Bellevue Hospital: bit.ly/2RgFpZN.

The cast of Hamilton gets together to salute a nine-year-old superfan with an online birthday tribute: bit.ly/2XgfEMW.

The latest from the industry:

Peavey, which is based in Mississippi -- one of the last states to go on lockdown -- reports: "This week Governor Tate Reeves issued a stay at home edict through April 20 for non-essential businesses in the state of Mississippi, where Peavey is located. While we believe that music and sound are an essential component of all of our lives, we too are doing our part to slow the spread of this coronavirus. Peavey will remain at your service for sales orders and customer service questions, and our warehouse will make shipments two days a week. We hope that everyone takes this time to practice and play an instrument and to rekindle the passion we all have for music. Everyone at Peavey wishes you strength, courage, and endurance as we all go through this unusual time -- together."

Learning opportunities:

Martin Audio reports that its training program is off to a record-breaking start. Check it out at bit.ly/2RhXjLF.

RCF Audio announces its online training lineup: bit.ly/3aLRNZq.

Shure is hosting a webinar titled "Best Practices for Home Conference," and who couldn't use that right now? It will be held April 8 at 11:00am CDT. Register at bit.ly/3dSsqai.

Cancellations/postponements/possible reopenings:

The website NY Tix reports that Broadway is likely to reopen sometime between June 1 and July 1: bit.ly/3bVmcof.

London's West End Theatres will be closed until the beginning of June: bit.ly/2xaM5Sr.

The Long Reach Long Riders charity ride has been postponed until 2021. The current plan is to ride the same route that was originally planned for this year. Plans are being developed for an alternate ride for 2020 which will potentially involve a relay from west coast to east coast. The relay concept will call for short one- or two-day day rides for individuals or small groups. It's currently planned to start on the west coast and finish in Maine. The start date for the relay ride is tentatively scheduled for June 20. Keep up with the latest at lrlr.org.

Mirvish Productions is keeping its four Toronto theatres closed until June 30: bit.ly/2UL5hiw.

Colorado's Theatre Aspen reports, "In adjusting to these extraordinary circumstances, the 2020 summer season will now begin July 6, 2020 and will include two, previously announced, musicals, the Tony-nominated Rock of Ages (July 6 - August 1) by Chris D'Arienzo and the Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse and John Kander Tony Award and Drama Desk Award-winning Chicago (August 6 - August 22). The previously announced Neil Simon comedy The Sunshine Boys will be postponed until the 2021 season."

Off Broadway's Clubbed Thumb reports it will postpone the 25th edition of Summerworks, its annual festival of new plays.

More entertainment and spiritual offerings:

Here's a great list of theatre productions available online: bit.ly/2xOdLwl.

On Sunday, April 12, at 2:00pm, a consortium of Jewish cultural organizations will present a "Third Seder," an unprecedented online international Yiddish cultural celebration featuring leading contemporary performers of the Yiddish and Klezmer stage. The "Third Seder" is produced by Rabbi Avram Mlotek, co-founder of Base Hillel, and Moishe Rosenfeld, founder and president of Golden Land Concerts & Connections. The celebration of Yiddish culture, song, and dance will be livestreamed on April 12, from 2:00 - 4:00pm, on Avram's Mlotek Facebook, bit.ly/2xQifSY, or www.rebrand.ly/thirdseder. Details about the event can be found at: www.facebook.com/events/1141566199523498/.

And last, but certainly not least:

The unflappable and reliably amusing Durham Marenghi has posted another memoir, this one about a rather bizarre live event starring the composer Isao Tomita and a giant Perspex pyramid. Enjoy: durhamld.com/category/durhams-digest/.

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