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Broadway and movies have both been deeply impacted during the pandemic. To get a sense of what lies ahead, Alec checks in with Robert Wankel, chairman and CEO of the Schubert Organization, and Pamela McClintock, senior film writer for the Hollywood Reporter. Broadway shuttered completely on March 12, 2020, and reopening remains a challenge due to safety issues for performers and audiences as well as capacity requirements that mean ticket sales won’t cover the show’s costs. Movie theaters face fewer safety issues with reopening at reduced capacity but the industry is now reckoning with the fact many of us have gotten used to watching even the newest of new releases from the comfort of our couches. If you love the thrill of a darkened theater and being transported, this episode will make you think about what comes next.

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3b:T489,How did the musical manage to run for a record breaking 35 years? And why is it closing? As the curtain comes down on the Phantom in New York's famous Broadway theatre district, we look at what this means for the theatre industry.The Phantom of the Opera has played to more than 140 million people around the world, it’s sold 20 million tickets, and been performed in 33 countries. But whilst the global tours will keep going, this weekend the show is closing in New York.Actor Jonathan Roxmouth played the Phantom on a world tour, and tells us about the shows impact across the globe.Matt Rousu is a professor of economics and runs the website ‘Broadway Economics’ - he talks through the fine margins that shows like Phantom operate within. And Kizzy Cox reports from Broadway where she meets fans, speaks to veteran theatre critic Ben Brantley, and talks to Jan Mullen, an orchestra musician who has been with The Phantom of the Opera since it opened in 1986.Presenter/ producer: Izzy Greenfield (Image: Jonathan Roxmouth plays 'The Phantom' and Meghan Picerno plays 'Christine Daae' in The Phantom Of The Opera, 2019 in Singapore. Credit: Getty Images)3c:T4bb,Thom Sesma has numerous Broadway, Off-Broadway, TV and film appearances to his credit, including The Times They Are a Changin, Man of La Mancha and La Cage Aux Folles. Some recent highlights include the title role in the off-Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd and a Lucille Lortel nominated performance in Pacific Overtures at Classic Stage Company, as well as the world premiere of Tom Kitt and John Logan's Superhero at Second Stage and Ibsen's Ghosts with Uma Thurman at Williamstown Theatre Festival. His most recent live theatre performance was in Michael Friedman’s Unknown Soldier which opened on March 9, 2020 off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons. Three days later live theatre was suspended due to the COVID19 pandemic and since then he’s accumulated many remote live-stream virtual credits in plays, musicals, concerts and works in development. He has also kept busy appearing in many roles in television and film and teaching a popular course called “Acting on Zoom”. He is currently starring in an online production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, with an all Asian cast, produced by CollaborAzian and with proceeds going to #StopAAPIHate that will stream starting July 15th.3d:T8ea,

Bringing the Theater Back to Life