I work Front Of House at a popular musical, last week we had to cancel 5 of our performances and for one performance we even had the audience seated and after a 30 minute delay, we had to cancel, which was not fun. A gentle reminder to be kind to F.O.H please, because most of the time we have no idea what's going on and why, we just have to do our job
This video is a much better explanation than the Broadway League’s President blaming understudies and swings for the cancellations. Calling them untalented.
If he/she said that then that was a very disrespectful remark from her. Understudies and swings work so hard in their roles, and it’s very insensitive to call them untalented because you don’t know what’s going on with the cases behind the reasons of understudying and standby information or swinging or anything like that.
We’ve had similar problems in schools with staff going off after testing positive, if they’re asymptomatic they’re being asked to work from home - which throws up its own set of problems, but in many settings it’s been a struggle to have enough adults physically in the classroom to ensure the safety of the students.
When I went to watch the Hairspray UK Tour last week, there was a large chunk of the ensemble missing. I'm still not sure if it was an issue related to Covid or not, but they delayed the show by 30 minutes and honestly I'm grateful. Like Amy said, productions will do anything not to cancel and to be able to put a performance on for people who have made plans to be there (and not have to give refunds). It is scary how the theatre industry is being affected.
Before COVID hit, I was severely burning out of working in theater, and I haven't truly worked on a show since December 2019. Hearing this, I am SO glad I'm still on a break (which is beginning to seem more and more permanent as time goes on), this sounds like hell to deal with on top of everything else that's already difficult in theater.
I remember seeing a pant in Liverpool years ago where the director ended up going on as the villain in Aladdin, he was fully just in a suit with a script. like im gutted shows r getting cancelled but u just know they've done all they could
I work in a theatre in Germany and we've had so many different reasons for cancelling shows - some a few days before, others literally with the audience already seated. Sometimes we aren't even told until 15 minutes before it's announced.
Thank you for this video. My show was cancelled, it was a fringe show and the venue staff had covid and couldn’t get anyone to organise it. It was so heart breaking. What’s happening is heart breaking. I wish everyone in this industry the best, we must keep fighting.
I had no idea this was a common thing, though I was bummed when my Come From Away booking got cancelled at the last minute last week. Thanks for explaining the behind the scenes!
I saw the show when Charlotte Jaconelli came down to Bristol to do Heathers. And I saw so many people complain on the bristol hippodrome Facebook page about the matinee being cancelled and couldn't understand why the evening show was able to happen
A few shows have started cancelling shows in Sydney. Had Hamilton do it for a number of shows & six just reopened up this week in sydney and had to canceled like 3 shows sadly. I've got a few shows to see in the first couple months of 2022 & if they're cancelled/rescheduled then fine I get it. I just hate seeing showings closing bc means people lose jobs & theatre industry especially in Australia haven't had the best 2 years our government hasn't cared about the arts they mainly care about sports
It’s reassuring to see how much the whole team is doing to keep going. How is this effecting the front of house team and what is different and what is normal for them day to day?
it sucks so much for everyone involved but they have to find a more sustainable way to operate bc every show is gonna close if they have to shut down every other week
Amy apologizing for wearing a comfy hoodie. Me, wearing a sweatshirt with a cardigan and sweatpants at work because they decided to remove the window and wall from next to our cubicles IN WINTER: “I feel like we’re at a sleepover” 😂🥶 I had kept seeing the posts from shows canceling but didn’t make the connection until now so omg thank you for this video Amy 💜
I’m assuming that for shows that are being turned into concerts instead (like Les Mis), a member of the tech team - be it costume, lighting, sound, etc., has tested positive and obviously they’re very specific roles where you either know what you’re doing or you don’t so it’s hard to get a replacement?
Stage Managers design their books so that any trained person could theoretically pick up that book and know how to cue the show. More likely the reason they’re doing concerts is because they’ve had to bring in cast who’ve done the show before but a long time ago and haven’t had time to re-rehearse the blocking. (See John Owen Jones’ posts about stepping in to do a concert version of Les Mis - he forgot lyrics at one point - imagine with so little rehearsal and after a year trying to remember the lyrics, music and blocking of a show)
Crazy how Andrew Lloyd Webber is shutting Cinderella down until February but isn’t taking that same care for the cast and crew of Phantom. I mean, on the other hand, he’s a bit of a douchebag, so I can actually believe that he cares more about his “woke Cinderella” than his older show.
pardon for my confusion, but is ALW still in charge of the Phantom. like i always thought he had given up the reins on that like yes he gains profits but there are directors, and a different production staff in charge of it.
Why do you think he is a douchebag? I'm not arguing, I just don't know much about him and am not as familiar with his work as I am with other people's work.
@@Emily-re3td he has a history of screwing over his actors/actresses (for example, breaking his contract with Patti LuPone when she was in Sunset Boulevard, which led her to sue him), tends to be snarky towards other (better) composers, and basically thinks he's God's Gift to Theatre (see: him insisting that theatres play to full capacity during the height of COVID because, god forbid, his shows go half-empty due to, you know, a global pandemic).
Beauty and the Beast has been cancelled in Cardiff gutted for them as that was the Christmas show and It's the main show that's the main money maker for them : ( glad to see your videos back Amy : )
![LAVROV's interview with Tucker CARLSON 😁 [Parody]](/img/1.gif)
I work Front Of House at a popular musical, last week we had to cancel 5 of our performances and for one performance we even had the audience seated and after a 30 minute delay, we had to cancel, which was not fun. A gentle reminder to be kind to F.O.H please, because most of the time we have no idea what's going on and why, we just have to do our job
This video is a much better explanation than the Broadway League’s President blaming understudies and swings for the cancellations. Calling them untalented.
What!?
If he/she said that then that was a very disrespectful remark from her. Understudies and swings work so hard in their roles, and it’s very insensitive to call them untalented because you don’t know what’s going on with the cases behind the reasons of understudying and standby information or swinging or anything like that.
I hate how people are saying "why cancel the whole show? just put on an understudy" as if the understudies aren't also getting sick
Yeah, exactly... and as if they didn't think of that, it's not like they'd cancel the show if they had any other viable option.
We’ve had similar problems in schools with staff going off after testing positive, if they’re asymptomatic they’re being asked to work from home - which throws up its own set of problems, but in many settings it’s been a struggle to have enough adults physically in the classroom to ensure the safety of the students.
When I went to watch the Hairspray UK Tour last week, there was a large chunk of the ensemble missing. I'm still not sure if it was an issue related to Covid or not, but they delayed the show by 30 minutes and honestly I'm grateful. Like Amy said, productions will do anything not to cancel and to be able to put a performance on for people who have made plans to be there (and not have to give refunds). It is scary how the theatre industry is being affected.
Before COVID hit, I was severely burning out of working in theater, and I haven't truly worked on a show since December 2019. Hearing this, I am SO glad I'm still on a break (which is beginning to seem more and more permanent as time goes on), this sounds like hell to deal with on top of everything else that's already difficult in theater.
I remember seeing a pant in Liverpool years ago where the director ended up going on as the villain in Aladdin, he was fully just in a suit with a script. like im gutted shows r getting cancelled but u just know they've done all they could
I work in a theatre in Germany and we've had so many different reasons for cancelling shows - some a few days before, others literally with the audience already seated. Sometimes we aren't even told until 15 minutes before it's announced.
Thank you for this video. My show was cancelled, it was a fringe show and the venue staff had covid and couldn’t get anyone to organise it. It was so heart breaking. What’s happening is heart breaking. I wish everyone in this industry the best, we must keep fighting.
omg i keep seeing the headlines and i had no idea what was going on. thanks for this. (also i love your necklaces lol)
We're wearing matching hoodie things!
Merry Christmas x
ALW’s Cinderella is closed till February which is crazy!
That top looks so comfy! 🤩
LOVE THIS VIDEO. I work in ticketing cs and the amount of people who email us as if we cancelled the show specifically to upset them is ridiculous 😂
I do not envy the ones who have to organize all this. Sounds overwhelming!
Thank you for explaining it
I had no idea this was a common thing, though I was bummed when my Come From Away booking got cancelled at the last minute last week. Thanks for explaining the behind the scenes!
Not to mention all the musicians and behind the scenes people :((
This is really interesting and sad. I appreciate the work that everyone is doing
I saw the show when Charlotte Jaconelli came down to Bristol to do Heathers. And I saw so many people complain on the bristol hippodrome Facebook page about the matinee being cancelled and couldn't understand why the evening show was able to happen
The voice you did at 6:35-6:40 made me laugh SO HARD! Thank you for that! Have a very Happy Christmas!
A few shows have started cancelling shows in Sydney. Had Hamilton do it for a number of shows & six just reopened up this week in sydney and had to canceled like 3 shows sadly. I've got a few shows to see in the first couple months of 2022 & if they're cancelled/rescheduled then fine I get it. I just hate seeing showings closing bc means people lose jobs & theatre industry especially in Australia haven't had the best 2 years our government hasn't cared about the arts they mainly care about sports
Thank you. Important you did this video.
It’s reassuring to see how much the whole team is doing to keep going. How is this effecting the front of house team and what is different and what is normal for them day to day?
it sucks so much for everyone involved but they have to find a more sustainable way to operate bc every show is gonna close if they have to shut down every other week
I was going to see six with my friends for my birthday but it was cancelled.It is happening so much lately!
Amy apologizing for wearing a comfy hoodie. Me, wearing a sweatshirt with a cardigan and sweatpants at work because they decided to remove the window and wall from next to our cubicles IN WINTER: “I feel like we’re at a sleepover” 😂🥶
I had kept seeing the posts from shows canceling but didn’t make the connection until now so omg thank you for this video Amy 💜
I’m assuming that for shows that are being turned into concerts instead (like Les Mis), a member of the tech team - be it costume, lighting, sound, etc., has tested positive and obviously they’re very specific roles where you either know what you’re doing or you don’t so it’s hard to get a replacement?
Stage Managers design their books so that any trained person could theoretically pick up that book and know how to cue the show. More likely the reason they’re doing concerts is because they’ve had to bring in cast who’ve done the show before but a long time ago and haven’t had time to re-rehearse the blocking. (See John Owen Jones’ posts about stepping in to do a concert version of Les Mis - he forgot lyrics at one point - imagine with so little rehearsal and after a year trying to remember the lyrics, music and blocking of a show)
Happy Holidays Amy😊
I know this is a bit random but I was wondering if you could do another "Reacting to your unpopular opinions" video, they're some of my faves :)
Crazy how Andrew Lloyd Webber is shutting Cinderella down until February but isn’t taking that same care for the cast and crew of Phantom. I mean, on the other hand, he’s a bit of a douchebag, so I can actually believe that he cares more about his “woke Cinderella” than his older show.
I think he may be planning on cutting his losses with Cinderella soon and this is just ramping up to that
pardon for my confusion, but is ALW still in charge of the Phantom. like i always thought he had given up the reins on that like yes he gains profits but there are directors, and a different production staff in charge of it.
Why do you think he is a douchebag? I'm not arguing, I just don't know much about him and am not as familiar with his work as I am with other people's work.
@@Emily-re3td he has a history of screwing over his actors/actresses (for example, breaking his contract with Patti LuPone when she was in Sunset Boulevard, which led her to sue him), tends to be snarky towards other (better) composers, and basically thinks he's God's Gift to Theatre (see: him insisting that theatres play to full capacity during the height of COVID because, god forbid, his shows go half-empty due to, you know, a global pandemic).
aaaaand cinderella got canned
Will you be doing a west side story review
Beauty and the Beast has been cancelled in Cardiff gutted for them as that was the Christmas show and It's the main show that's the main money maker for them : ( glad to see your videos back Amy : )
And that was cancelled due to the Welsh government restrictions
@@hannahp7855 I know I am gutted for the cast as they've worked so hard :(
Yikes, I didn’t realize it was that damn bad.
Thanks for this explanation - it makes sense!
The Six production I was going to got cancelled because of COVID 😕
ugh i was supposed to see come from away the 26th :(
Well said!
Happy Holidays, let's hope with boosters and more precautions the theater will be back on track. (I mean by everyone, not by the artists alone)
Love your videos Amy!
Thanks amy, another great video
This was so interesting and informative Amy! Xx
In think they get paid weekly rate no matter
They don’t
@@AmyLovatt1 Can you confirm as have worked in west end for years. Usually u get equity minimum and paid for understudy commitments.
@@faffolite Equity negotiated new rules with SOLT for Covid times
@@mercurymorning1 depends on contracr
👍