I was just talking about this with my boyfriend. I feel like Broadway theaters aren't going to be operating at full capacity for quite some time. At least a year. Even when things start reopening this summer there's probably going to be an audience cap, and no Broadway producer is going to want to run a show at half-capacity (or less). Unless they triple the ticket prices or something! Broadway needs paying audiences, unlike sports (which have broadcast deals in place), and TV show tapings (where tickets are already free), etc.
So I was thinking, what if they find a way to test the cast/crew/musicians (antibody testing perhaps?), put on shows and broadcast/stream each performance somewhere for a fee? Maybe do this daily, or once a week.
I know, I know, theater is best experienced live, but I just don't see us able to gather for a while. I would rather stream Broadway shows for the next year than have nothing until next spring.
I mean, I had tickets to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf for the day after Broadway shut down. Given the option I would GLADLY pay the cost of a ticket to watch Laurie Metcalf as Martha on my television. I'd rather that than have nothing!
And yes I realize it would be a huge financial/technological/union undertaking, but I'm just spit-balling here. The only other option I see is half-empty houses with spaced-out audiences, required face masks & exorbitant ticket prices. I would be fine with watching a few shows from home. I'd pay for something like that. Again, just temporarily! Like until there's a vaccine. |
