Broadway League Working Closely with Cuomo-Led New York Re-Opening Advisory Board

By: May. 01, 2020
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Broadway League Working Closely with Cuomo-Led New York Re-Opening Advisory Board

Despite the notable lack of theatre industry representatives included among the names recently unveiled for the New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board, Deadline is reporting that the Broadway League is closely collaborating with the board on a re-opening strategy for New York City's theatrical community.

League President, Charlotte St. Martin, tells Deadline, "We are completely aligned with his thinking."

The League is working alongside two advisers and former gubernatorial aides, Steve Cohen and Bill Mulrow, who are heading the effort.

In addition to the League's involvement, Cuomo has sought the counsel of theatre industry leaders Scott Rudin and James L. Nederlander for their input regarding Broadway's eventual re-opening.

At the Governor's urging, the industry is developing its own individual set of procedures for re-opening. As part of that initiative, Equity recently employed federal safety consultant, David Michaels to aid in the union's re-opening strategy.

"David's expertise will be invaluable during this unprecedented time," said Mary McColl, Executive Director Actors' Equity Association. "Ultimately, while the employers are solely responsible for ensuring the health and safety of all actors and stage managers, Equity is committed to being an industry leader to help develop model health and safety standards that will eventually allow us to reopen and maintain a safe and healthy workplace."

On April 21, Equity Council unanimously passed a new internal membership rule that members may only return to work when the union deems it safe to do so, and that they will not sign over their rights to a safe workplace. Dr. Michaels will be key part to implementing a plan where member safety is put first and decisions are made with a clear safety and scientific basis.

Dr. Michaels is currently a Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health of the George Washington University. Notably, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) during the Obama administration, from 2009-2017. He received his Masters in Public Health (MPH) and PhD from Columbia University, and has also taught epidemiology at the CUNY School of Medicine and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.



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