A part-time usher who recently worked at two Broadway theaters has tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, prompting a scramble to inform the public and clean the buildings, according to the theater owners.
The usher worked March 3 to March 7 at performances of a revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” now in previews at the 766-seat Booth Theater, starring Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett. Before that, the usher helped manage lines outside two performances of “Six,” a British musical about the wives of Henry VIII, on the evening of Feb. 25 and before the matinee of March 1. That show is now in previews at the 1,031-seat Brooks Atkinson Theater.
The usher has been quarantined, and the person’s medical condition is not clear. Nor was it clear when the usher began showing symptoms, which can arise between 2 and 14 days of infection.
A spokesman for the theater owners said that the usher — whom they did not identify — had been stationed in the mezzanine at the Booth for all but one of the performances concerned; the usher worked in the orchestra for the other performance. The spokesman said the usher did not show symptoms while working, and that “we have no knowledge of other individuals exhibiting symptoms as a result of contact with this individual.”
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–Both shows were expected to perform as scheduled on Wednesday night, but uneasy patrons were allowed to exchange their tickets. “Any ticketholder that prefers to attend a future performance of ‘Virginia Woolf’ or ‘Six’ will be provided the opportunity for an exchange at the point of purchase,” the theater owners said in a joint statement.
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–The Shubert Organization, which operates the Booth, on Wednesday subjected that building to “a deep cleaning, following all current government standards,” according to the statement. The Brooks Atkinson, operated by the Nederlander Organization, will have a deep cleaning Wednesday night, in anticipation of the official opening of “Six” on Thursday night.
“Immediately upon learning of the positive test, both organizations began taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of our audiences, performers, crew, and building staff,” the owners said. They said that employees of the theaters and shows were advised to monitor their health and stay home if they felt ill, and that they were urging any “high-risk audience members” who attended the shows to do the same. The statement did not say what the theaters were doing to contact audience members.
It was unclear who else might have been exposed to the usher, and whether he or she had another job, as many ushers do. Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for the city health department, said that its disease detectives were identifying the usher’s close contacts and giving them guidance.
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–People who saw “Virginia Woolf” in recent days expressed a mix of emotions about whether the theater should stay open.
“As someone who performs for a living, I see it from both sides,” said Kevin Daly, a church musician who saw the play on March 5 and guessed that he had interacted with three or four ushers on the way to his seat. “But I would have to err on the side of health. I have parents with health issues who are older, I have friends who have compromised immune systems.”
The diagnosis comes as Broadway is endeavoring to keep its shows running during a widening public health crisis. There are currently 31 plays and musicals open, and the industry has taken a variety of steps, including recommending an end to interactions between fans and performers at stage doors, in an effort to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Governments in several European countries have taken steps that have forced the closings of local theaters, and in Washington state on Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee banned gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle area, forcing the closing of its prestigious nonprofits, Seattle Rep and the 5th Avenue Theater.
In New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo suggested at a news conference that he was conflicted about what to do about large public gatherings. “You don’t want to shut down society, because that’s massively disruptive — to the economy, to life, etc.,” he said, “but your main concern here is the public health crisis, and it’s balancing the two.”
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–Broadway attendance has held steady thus far, but the industry is bracing for a downturn: advance sales have been dropping, and refund requests rising. As tourism, particularly from overseas, has begun to evaporate, the industry is refocusing its marketing on residents of the New York area, and ticket discounts are plentiful.
Elizabeth A. Harris contributed reporting.
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