We always love when Dr. Blythe Adamson, of Infectious Economics, drops by the show: She’s basically been holding (virtually, of course) us by the hand since theater came back in New York. As seems to be the case every winter now — remember the lines around the block last December when everybody was trying to get tested for Omicron? — we are reading about a new variant. (This one has been nicknamed Kraken, which annoys Elisabeth because she feels it’s spoiled her long-running habit of yelling “Release the Kraken!” whenever she’s about to play tennis, or maybe to clean her house.)
Anyway, Dr. Adamson was full of great information, as usual. But where she really took us by surprise is when she talked about the cost of having understudies vs. cancelling a show. Even more surprising was when she brought up recent developments relating to attendance — not from the audience, mind you, but from cast members and technicians. Listen up, it’s a wild ride.
Here are a couple of Peter’s recent stories:
Broadway’s “The Piano Lesson” sends its piano to the Smithsonian
How a play about a pope’s last days reveals the stark realities of dying
Thanks to Christian Huygen for our theme music.
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