COVID-19 Closures: Hannah Weaver (ArtsPower National Touring Theatre)
The COVID-19 crisis has caused a devastatingly massive wave of performance cancellations across the country, leaving actors out of work. Broadway, regional theatre, national tours, and more were forced to close much earlier than expected. I’ve been reaching out to the artists affected. Here are their stories.
Hannah Weaver
COVID-19 has upended every aspect of the theatre industry, and proven that the government does not have adequate protective measures in place for artists and gig workers.
I am a NYC-based actor who, up until last week, performed around the country with ArtsPower National Touring Theatre. We averaged six shows a week and were largely unaffected by the outbreak until mid-March. Slowly our audiences began dwindling, as we caught word from our theater contacts that local schools had cancelled large field trips over fear of the virus. While driving back to the city from New Hampshire for a day off, we learned that several upcoming shows had been cancelled. By the next day, every show had been cut and our tour had officially ended.
In my experience, theatrical contracts generally have a clause regarding cancelled performances - these remain in place to protect the actors and the company in case of loss of work. However, most employers also reserve the right to prematurely end a contract, and with a pandemic sweeping the nation and their futures suddenly unclear, it seems many companies opted for this route.
Back in NYC two weeks earlier than expected, I decided to fall back on my survival job - but with large gatherings discouraged and social distance the new norm, my day job followed suit and closed its doors for at least two weeks. With most auditions cancelled, my prospective gigs postponed or uncertain, and life as I knew it completely interrupted, I wasn’t sure how to proceed...so I decided to apply for unemployment.
After six hours wasted trying to get through online and on the phone, I realized the system in place works directly against the most vulnerable. The office did not understand why I had worked so many jobs in the past year (#actorlife), why they had all ended (contract work), why some of them didn’t have a consistent location (cruise ships and tours) and why I didn’t have readily available tax information on my most recent job (which I started this year).
Meanwhile friends who had worked one job with a steady paycheck all year had filed in a half hour and had their checks within a few days. It’s infuriating that someone in a more traditional line of work can collect more per week through unemployment than an artist makes on a typical week, while those of us directly affected by this pandemic are unable to get any help. A week after filing, my claim is still invalid, I am still deemed ineligible, and I can’t get through to a representative. I am fortunate in that I have a savings account and am not worried about where my next meal will come from - but I am livid at the unemployment infrastructure put in place in our state. Freelance workers are ineligible for unemployment insurance, many artists do not qualify since we do not make the threshold salary, and the system is nearly impossible to navigate. I pay taxes and am putting money in, so I should be eligible to get money out. It seems so unfair that a system built for people who need it the most is unequipped to help those who need it the most right now.
I plan to keep trying - I’ve got nothing but free time!
As for how I am managing, I am embracing how artists are coming together in this strange time to continue creating and lifting each other up. I am spending socially distant time with my family and friends, and leaning into a “forced vacation.” I tend to work too hard, so I am giving myself permission to slow down and use this time to connect with those I love and work on my hobbies.
The future is so uncertain right now, so I don’t see the point in stressing about next steps - the pieces will fall into place eventually!
Hannah Weaver is a NYC-based actor with a penchant for children’s theatre and a love for travel. She has toured the world with Disney Cruise Line, VStar Entertainment Group, and ArtsPower National Touring Theatre. This past year she performed in the city with 92Y, Theater for the New City, and Rebel Playhouse. She has a BA in Theatre and Psychology from Lafayette College. hannahcweaver.com / @hannahweaver001
Let’s work together to make the best of a not-so-great situation.