“Refund or donation: Which do most ticket holders to COVID-canceled shows choose?” by The Los Angeles Times’ Makeda Easter – “With the cost of tickets ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, calling for ticket donations is a strategy many performing arts organizations are using to stay afloat amid coronavirus-related show cancellations and postponements. But are audiences actually donating tickets? And if so, what impact does that have on venues? …

After canceling its 2020 seasons at the Hollywood Bowl and Ford Theatres … the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. is facing an $80 million budget shortfall. For canceled Disney Hall shows, 11% of ticket income was donated back to the L.A. Phil. About 25% was refunded and 64% was converted into a credit for a future show.

Of subscribers at Center Theatre Group … 30% donated their tickets, 42% requested a credit and 28% requested a refund. Among single-ticket buyers, however, 15% donated, 35% requested a credit and 50% requested a refund.” http://bway.ly/6auuud

 

OSCARS: “Oscars 2021 Pushed Back by Two Months” by Variety’s Marc Malkin – ” … the 93rd Academy Awards telecast has been postponed by two months to April 25, 2021″ http://bway.ly/1uq2dz

 

LICENSING: “Music Theatre International Suspends Performer Age Restrictions on Broadway Junior Titles” by Playbill’s Logan Culwell-Block – “Actors of all ages will temporarily be able to perform in the 30- and 60-minute versions of such shows as Into the Woods and Beauty and the Beast.” http://bway.ly/7u9bdr

“Amid Coronavirus Lockdown, A New Platform Hopes to Aid Theatres With Streaming Performances” by Playbill’s Logan Culwell-Block – “A new theatrical streaming platform from Music Theatre InternationalShowTix4U, and Broadway Media Distribution is set to launch June 18. Aimed at amateur and community theatres in North America, the platform offers one comprehensive portal to obtain streaming rights, sell tickets, capture and stream performances both live and on demand, and pay royalties.” http://bway.ly/3t20pa

SOUTH KOREA: “Star-studded musicals seek to energize COVID-19-hit theater industry” by The Korea Times’ Kwon Mee-yoo – “For the summer peak season, a few new and returning musical productions will open with extra safety measures. Large-scale musical productions will still go on despite the pandemic, as canceling or postponing them would cause billions of won in damages. The two most highly anticipated musicals this summer are Korean premieres of hit musicals from the West End and Broadway ― “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” and “Something Rotten!“” http://bway.ly/jx8kbl

 

REGIONAL: “Theatre Under the Stars Postpones Fall Musicals; Broadway-Bound 1776 Will Now Close Season” by Playbill’s Andrew Gans – ” … 1776 will cap off the season September 28–October 10, 2021, immediately following its scheduled Broadway run.” http://bway.ly/wccybp

“Some Regional Theatres Continue Plans for Re-Opening Despite Increasing Cases” by BroadwayWorld – “Fort Myers’ Broadway Palm … has been performing to 25% of its usual 448-seat capacity and on June 25, it plans to step it up to 50% when it opens The Sound of Music. The theatre re-opens with new safety measures in place, including temperature checks and adjusted seating arrangements that are “private and appropriately spaced” to encourage social distancing. Masks are not mandatory of guests but encouraged. The theatre is also providing hand sanitizer stations and using UV lights to kill bacteria.” http://bway.ly/6a7dpw

 

ACROSS THE POND: “The Only West End Show Still Standing” by The New York Times’ Alex Marshall – ““Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain” is, technically, the only West End show still standing after coronavirus … Next month, the show … was meant to start a run at London’s Apollo Theater. It is still going ahead, Foster said, except its run will now start July 4 in an altogether different location: the parking lot of Powderham Castle, a visitor attraction about 200 miles west of Britain’s capital city.” http://bway.ly/dttwic

“London Theatre Direct introduce Apple Wallet tickets in a West End first” by London Theatre Direct – “From today, theatregoers with an iPhone or Apple Watch will have the option to download their ticket directly to their devices for contactless entry into the venue for a growing number of shows.” http://bway.ly/o0c1r6

 

READINGS: “Brynn Williams and Anthony Chatmon II to Star in Reading of Freedom Riders” by TheaterMania’s David Gordon – ” … Williams … Chatmon II, and Deon’te Goodman will star in an online reading of Richard Allen and Taran Gray’s award-winning Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical on July 10 at 8pm ET.” http://bway.ly/do9tq1

“MCC Reschedules Live Stream of Aziza Barnes’ Pues Nada” by Playbill’s Olivia Clement – “The reading, directed by Whitney White, will stream June 17 on MCC’s YouTube.” http://bway.ly/amzy18

DANCEWEAR: “Capezio and Bloch Vow to Release Wider Range of Shades in Dancewear and Shoes” by BroadwayWorld – “A petition was created by members of the dance community, urging Capezio to create more clothing and shoe options for people of color.” http://bway.ly/9zx9zf

EDUCATION: “Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jonathan Groff, More Join 2020 Virtual International Thespian Festival Lineup” by Playbill’s Logan Culwell-Block – “Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jonathan Groff, and Susan Blackwell have joined the lineup … Also joining the lineup are … Frank DiLella … and … Nevin Steinberg.” http://bway.ly/sl59qh

FILM: “BroadwayHD Acquires Repeat Attenders Documentary” by BroadwayWorld – “The documentary … is now available to stream exclusively on BroadwayHD.” http://bway.ly/p1bzhg

PODCAST: “Broadway Producer Eva Price Launches New Podcast My First Show Featuring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ali Stroker and More” by BroadwayWorld – ” … Price will launch a new podcast called “My First Show” exclusively on Broadway Podcast Network.” http://bway.ly/xzl9n2

CONCERT: “Tituss Burgess, Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow, Andrew Lippa, More to Judge Songs for Our City Finale Concert” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “Tony winner Alice Ripley, Tony nominee Ethan Slater, and more will perform this week to earn a spot in front of the judges.” http://bway.ly/o3vys9

 

EVENTS:
“John Benjamin Hickey, André De Shields & More Remember Terrence McNally in Virtual Discussion” 
by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – “A virtual discussion about the life and legacy of … McNally is scheduled to take place on June 17 at 8PM ET on Ovee.” http://bway.ly/1sc1d3

“David Henry Hwang to Host Workshop and Q&A for American Theatre Wing’s Master Class Series” by BroadwayWorld – ” … Hwang will host a playwriting workshop and Q&A discussion, moderated by the Wing’s President & CEO Heather Hitchens, on Thursday, June 18 from 4:00pm – 5:15pm ET.” http://bway.ly/lfsaqs

AT HOME: “Idris Goodwin Offers ‘Free Play’ for Kids to Act Out Anti-Racism” by American Theatre’s Rob Weinert-Kendt – “The playwright and poet offers five free scripts for parents and kids to read and play-act at home or in their communities.” http://bway.ly/34x0kv

ONLINE: 
— “Nikki M. James, Brandon Victor Dixon and Montego Glover Join Michael James Scott for #LiveatFive Roundtable Discussion” by Broadway.com‘s Caitlin Moynihan – http://bway.ly/t3fdsz
 “Black West End and Broadway stars to appear in online charity concert recorded live at Cadogan Hall” by WhatsOnStage’s Alex Wood – http://bway.ly/9rwdpz
— “Peter Pan Live! … Will Be Broadcast with The Shows Must Go On” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/rklqe7
— “Tonya Pinkins, James Monroe Iglehart and More to Star in Mrs. Warren’s Profession Presented by Plays in the House” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/deuzyg

LUKER: “After A.L.S. Diagnosis, Rebecca Luker Is ‘Proud I Can Still Sing’” by The New York Times’ Sarah Bahr – “After receiving a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, last fall, [Luker] has to use her elbows to prop herself up on the arms of her wheelchair to produce the soaring strains that fans of “Secret Garden” and “Phantom of the Opera” have come to know and love, albeit in a lower register — high notes are hard for her. Though Luker’s prognosis appears bleak … she plans to continue to sing as long as she’s physically able, including at a prerecorded Zoom benefit performance, “At Home With Rebecca Luker,” on Wednesday at 8 p.m.” http://bway.ly/tguewj