COVID-19 Closures: David J. Rivera ("Ghost" at Ivoryton Playhouse)

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.

By David J. Rivera

I had just returned from my contract at the Fireside Theatre, where I played Frank Jr. in Saturday Night Fever. I decided to join Equity because I was over the points threshold, and there was an EPA the next day for Ghost the Musical at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

I went early to sign up, got my afternoon appointment, and was given a callback for that same night at 8:30 pm.

9 days later, on March 5th, j received my offer via email for Willie Lopez. I was very excited as this was my first booking from an NYC EPA as an Equity member!

The following week, NYC started hearing rumblings of COVID-19. A couple more days passed, and the severity of the situation was revealed. From the stock market plummeting, to the Broadway shutdown, to everyone social distancing; Things escalated quickly.

The Ivoryton Playhouse has already elected to postpone the second show of their season. They are optimistic that they will be able to reopen late May, but no one knows how long this will last. Even though Ghost is set to open mid September, it’s really all up in the air at this point. It is entirely plausible that this show never happens.

Luckily, I work a part time Telefundraising job for the DNC, so I am able to work from home during all of this for some income. I realize that I am extremely lucky. Most of my friends and family have lost their jobs and are collecting unemployment.

All we can do is stay connected and united until this is all over. Let’s continue to raise each other up.

David J. Rivera is a NYC-based actor and lover of all things acting and Boston Celtics. Some credits: Scorpion/Male Swing in THE VIDEO GAMES off broadway, Frank Jr. in Saturday Night Fever and Ensemble/Ritchie Valens cover in Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story (Fireside Theater), Jimmy in The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de las Rosa’s (Passage Theater Company)

IG: @DavidJRivera07

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