COVID-19 Update, May 1, 2020: Operation Warp Speed

Welcome to our May Day edition.

The president announces a Manhattan Project-style effort to develop a vaccine: tinyurl.com/ydyfcsbg.

Investigators find no evidence that the coronavirus is man-made: tinyurl.com/y9yoae24. The president, however, doesn't believe it: tinyurl.com/y88euxco. But China has refused WHO requests to take part in an investigation of the coronavirus' origins: tinyurl.com/ydyqs23n.

Flattening the curve: How is your state doing? Here's a comprehensive look: tinyurl.com/y9cqk7z4.

What if a coronavirus vaccine already exists? The repurposing search is on: tinyurl.com/y8dwgayg.

Meanwhile:

Macy's plans to open 68 stores on Monday with all 775 stores open by June: tinyurl.com/ybo588w8.

How cinema owners make patrons feel safe? tinyurl.com/y9k4e3sz. A survey indicates what patrons want to see happen: tinyurl.com/yafoodcu.

Essential workers at Amazon, Whole Foods ,and elsewhere plan a one-day strike to protest coronavirus-related conditions: tinyurl.com/y9h697b5. In case you were worried, Amazon posted $75 billion in first-quarter revenues: tinyurl.com/yb42t7jo.

A proposal about modesty. Is starting small the best way for theatres? tinyurl.com/ycgtnben.

In Brazil:

The health secretary warns his citizens to brace themselves for hard times. But, as The Guardian reports, "Asked about the rising death toll this week, [Jair Bolsonaro] sparked outrage by declaring: "So what?": tinyurl.com/yawm3fqk.

In California:

MusiCares, the charitable wing of the Recording Academy, is not accepting any additional requests for aid until it raises more money: tinyurl.com/yal4wjqg.

In Europe:

The Russian Prime Minister falls ill with the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/yaplpmh8.

In New York:

The subways will shut down between 1:00am and 5:00am for deep cleaning: tinyurl.com/y7rxffq6.

In Vegas:

Convention attendance in March, usually one of the strongest months, fell by nearly 55%: tinyurl.com/y7gqybr8.

The governor of Nevada says most Vegas businesses will open on May 15: tinyurl.com/y96hpwzl.

Training:

ADJ announces the second wave of its "Stay Connected" educational live videos: tinyurl.com/yawr9rrs.

NAMM plans a webinar, "COVID Retail Recovery: How to Reopen for Business," on May 7: tinyurl.com/yarxbgze.

QSC announces the premiere of QSC@Home, a comprehensive online launch point dedicated to users' success across a vast range of solutions and applications: tinyurl.com/y99az2hv.

On Wednesday, May 6, Shure hosts a webinar on the history of the Unidyne 55 microphone. For information, go to: tinyurl.com/y7k6lxhp.

Company news:

From City Theatrical, Gary Fails writes, "We are fortunate that the State of New Jersey designated manufacturers as essential businesses and we have been allowed to remain open when many other businesses were forced to close. Despite our best efforts to maintain the health and safety of our workers, COVID-19 ripped through our factory in late March and 12 staff members were infected, including myself. We were forced to close our manufacturing facility for three full weeks while our staff recovered. We maintained a skeleton crew working on site (huge shout out to Gary Vilardi for his leadership) to pack, ship, and receive, and our sales and engineering teams continued to work from home answering incoming calls, providing customer service, and designing new products."

"On April 22, we reopened our factory with nearly our full staff, turned on our machinery, and resumed making electronic and metal parts to fill our customers' orders. It was great to be back in the shop and back in full production and to see all of our production staff again."

"We also wrote and implemented a carefully detailed COVID-19 Return to Work Plan for our New Jersey and London offices, using the best local, state, and federal guidelines available. Anyone working anywhere today should be using at least these 13 health and safety guidelines." www.citytheatrical.com/home

Scheduling:

The Boston Symphony Orchestra announces plans to begin its season September 16, but with a caveat: "The Boston Symphony Orchestra acknowledges the ongoing uncertainty around the COVID-19 health crisis and the lack of clarity regarding the duration of the pandemic. Though the BSO is announcing its usual full complement of performances for its 2020 - 2021 Symphony Hall season and hopes the season will proceed without interruption, the organization is prepared to respond to all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the City of Boston, should circumstances necessitate changes to its performance schedule or to its current health and safety policies."

Broadway Bares, the risqué revue that raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, has been canceled for this year. The next edition will occur Sunday, June 20, 2021.

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Company, in Garrison, New York, has canceled its summer season: hvshakespeare.org/.

Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre cancels productions until October, plans virtual presentations: tinyurl.com/yd4ge278.

Entertainment/enlightenment:

The free theatrical newsletter Broadway Briefing has created a new service to help one keep up with the theatrical entertainment currently available online. Check it out at: curtaintimes.com.

Durham Marenghi muses on a sad fact of life under lockdown: tinyurl.com/y7dleves.

A new date of Wednesday, May 6 has been announced for the free encore viewing of Paul Gordon's musical Emma, based on the novel by Jane Austen. Producers Streaming Musicals, Apples and Oranges Studios, Tryptyk Studios, Tom D'Angora and Emma Market Development, LLC will now offer a streaming encore viewing and cast party on May 6 at 7:00 pm ET (previously May 7) in order to accommodate a scheduling conflict with a soon-to-be-announced industry benefit. There will be encore presentations on May 6 at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT, and at 7:00 pm BT/2:00 pm ET on Thursday, May 7, 2020. For information and to register, visit www.EmmaMusicalPremiere.com/.

On Tuesday, May 5, the Gilmore presents pianist Igor Levit, in a live-streamed, all-Beethoven recital. From a recording studio in Berlin, Levit performs Piano Sonatas No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2; No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110; and No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111. Go to www.thegilmore.org. Also, James Conlon, music director Los Angeles Opera, discusses Mozart and Beaumarchais at soundcloud.com/laopera.

During the month of May, the Grammy Museum is releasing digital sessions with such artists as Trey Anastasio, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Dave Stewart, Shinedown, Bush, and The Zombies. For the full lineup, go to www.grammymuseum.org/.

On May 5 at 3:00pm ET, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre hosts The Impact of COVID-19 on Our Humanity. Facilitated by National Black Theatre's artistic director, Jonathan McCrory, with playwright David Henry Hwang, cultural organizer Geoffrey Jackson Scott, and Rattlestick managing director Yue Line, the conversation will center on addressing how the pandemic is affecting the way we treat one another. RSVP at tinyurl.com/yde3whju.

That's all for today. Have a good weekend. And stay safe.

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