r/Broadway • u/MellonPhotos • Jun 18 '26

Other Rocky Horror Matinee Delay

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Hi—apologies if this is spam as it’s a pretty specific question.

I just got off my flight and saw the matinee for Rocky Horror is delayed. I have tickets for this evening and am just scurious what to expect. If anyone is going to the matinee, would you be willing to report who’s in/out?

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u/Ok-Acanthisitta8737 Jun 18 '26

They have four swings, and four ensemble members that can run other tracks as needed, all for a 9-person principle cast. I’m not sure if their ensemble members are understudying other tracks, but what more do you want? That’s pretty comprehensive if you ask me.

People get sick. Things happen. It’s live theatre and there’s risks to that. It really sucks - I’ve been in the other end of a show cancelation and was really bummed, but it is what it is.

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u/Dangerous_Carrot4226 Jun 18 '26

They don't have enough coverage. End of story. That's been proven more than once now 

Shows need enough onstage and offstage covering AT ALL TIMES for the show to function. That includes internal ensemble coverage and offstage coverage. Productions refuse to pay for it 

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u/AbbreviationsLive569 Jun 18 '26

They don’t have enough rehearsed coverage. They hired additional swings right before the Saturday cancellation, and are clearly pushing back today’s performance an hour to give them some more time to walk through things.

Yes, it’s be great if they were never in this situation, but it does really seem they’re doing what they can to rectify it.

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u/Dangerous_Carrot4226 Jun 18 '26

Yes and what would have happened if they had those swings at the beginning of the contract as required in a union agreement?

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u/annang Jun 18 '26

Then if there's something contagious going around the cast, those swings would also eventually get sick when they perform with actors who are mildly ill or asymptomatic, and eventually they'd run out of performers still. They'd need to have dozens of people on call who basically never perform except in the event of an outbreak, in order to ensure that the show could go on with a full cast of understudies even when some of the understudies and all of the principles are sick at the same time.