Communications Plan: The Goodman Theatre
Crisis: Actor Injury
DBN Crisis Plan created by: Devon Brown Plan Written on: Friday, December 5th, 2014 Plan Tested: Once before every production
Introduction Ever since four different actors were injured during live performances of Spider Man: Turn off the Dark more people than ever before are looking at the safety regulations theatre’s have in place to protect the actors on stage. We feel that because of this and other incidents where actors have been seriously injured during a live performance that The Goodman Theatre should implement a crisis communications plan that would go into effect should this or a crisis similar to this ever happen on one of our stages. The stunt demand on a stage actor has risen drastically over the years, with stunts becoming increasingly more elaborate and therefore more dangerous. The Goodman is one of Chicago’s premier theatres and has a reputation of always bringing fun, Broadway quality shows to the people of Chicago. We do not want that reputation to become damaged in any way should an actor get injured during one of our live performances and we, at The Goodman Theatre, are not fully prepared to handle the crisis itself and the media questioning that would come with it. Thankfully this particular crisis has not happened at The Goodman, however it has happened at other, similar theatres around the world, most famously at the Liberty Theatre in New York City where the actor who played Spider Man in Spider Man: Turn off the Dark fell 30 feet off of a platform. Even though this has yet to happen at the Goodman we want to be prepared if it one day does.
Acknowledgements By signing this statement, I verify that I have read this crisis communications plan and am prepared to put it into effect. Signed.
____________________________ Robert Falls Artistic Director The Goodman Theatre
____________________________ Roche Shulfer Executive Director The Goodman Theatre
____________________________ Steve Scott Producer The Goodman Theatre
____________________________ Chuck Smith Resident Director The Goodman Theatre
____________________________ Devon Brown Director of Public Relations The Goodman Theatre
Rehearsal Date Schedule
Saturday, January 10th, 2015 – Rapture, Blister, Burn Saturday, February 28th, 2015 – Two Trains Running Saturday, March 21st, 2015 – The Upstairs Concierge Saturday, April 30th, 2015 – The Little Foxes Saturday, May 16th, 2015 – Stop, Reset Saturday, June 13th, 2015 – Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Saturday, September 5th, 2015 – The World of Extreme Happiness
This will continue every season, the Saturday before each new show opens.
Purpose and Objectives The Goodman Theatre stages an average of eight productions, both in the Albert which is the mainstage and the Owen which is the smaller black box, a year. While many of these productions do not require the use of wires or other stunt devices there is always the possibility that an actor could get seriously injured during a live performance. The purpose of this crisis plan is so that in the event of an actor getting injured during a live performance, it is our responsibility to inform our publics of the situation and how we plan to handle it so we can maintain our good reputation.
To achieve this we need to: 1. Implement the Crisis Communications plan within an hour of the crisis 2. Acknowledge the problem as soon as possible 3. Inform all executive board members of the crisis within 2 hours 4. Keep the media informed with honest, reliable information 5. Keep communication between crisis team members open at all times 6. Remain truthful when talking to various publics 7. Discover ways to eliminate similar problems in the future
Key Publics Internal Publics: 1. Cast Members 2. Technical Crew 3. Executive Board Members 4. Interns 5. Volunteers 6. Artistic Managers 7. Retirees
External Publics: 1. The Audience 2. Actor’s Equity 3. Other Theatres 4. Local Government Officials 5. Chicago Community
Media Personnel Television: Carrie Walker – ABC 7 Chicago Email: cwalker@abc.com
Phone: 312-750-7777
Andrew Greiner – NBC Chicago Email: agreiner@nbc.com
Phone: 312-386-5555
Radio: Mike Krauser - WBBM Newsradio Email: mkrauser@wbbm.com
Phone: 312-861-9600
Stephanie Menedez – WGN Email: smenedez@wgn.com Phone: 312-222-4700
Print: Chris Jones – Chicago Tribune Email: cjones@chicagotribune.com Phone: 312-222-3001 Hedy Weiss – Chicago Sun Times Email: hweiss@suntimes.com
Phone: 312-321-3000
Online: Joseph Erbentraut – Huffington Post Chicago Email: jerbentraut@huffingtonpost.com
Phone: 312-222-6852
Crisis Team Robert Falls Artistic Director Email: ____________________ Office Phone: ___________________ Cell Phone: _____________________
Roche Schulfer Executive Director Email: _____________________ Office Phone: _____________________ Cell Phone: ________________________
_______________________________ Director Email: ________________________ Office Phone: _______________________ Cell Phone: __________________________
Lori Kleinerman Marketing and Public Relations Executive Email: ______________________________ Office Phone: ________________________ Cell Phone: __________________________
_______________________________________________ Stunt Coordinator Email: ______________________ Office Phone: _______________________ Cell Phone: _________________________
________________ Public Relations Director Email: _____________________ Office Phone: ______________________ Cell Phone: _______________________
Media Spokesperson Spokesperson: The Director of the production - ex.) Chuck Smith for “Two Trains Running”
Backup Spokesperson #1: Roche Shulfer – Executive Director of the Goodman Theatre
Backup Spokesperson #2: Robert Falls – Artistic Director of the Goodman Theatre
Interview Tips Spokesperson: _________________________________ Backup 1: ____________________________________ Backup 2: ____________________________________ Do: 1. Concentrate on two or three main points 2. Be accessible and pleasant to reporters 3. Always be truthful when answering questions 4. Listen to the whole question before you begin to answer 5. Remain Calm 6. Keep employees informed all throughout the crisis Don’t: 1. Use theatrical jargon instead use everyday language 2. Get overly emotional 3. Speculate or guess 4. Attempt to predict the future 5. Chew gum or smoke
Dress: 1. Look clean and polished 2. No Jeans 3. No neon colors 4. Make sure your hair is out of your face 5. Women, do not wear short skirts or shorts 6. Do not wear any bold patterns (ex. large stripes, polka dots, plaid, etc) 7. Make sure your clothes are winkle free
Emergency Personnel *In an emergency dial 911 Chicago Police Department: 1718 South State Street Chicago, IL Phone: 312-744-5000 Chicago Fire Department: 121 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL Phone: 312-744-4000 Northwestern Memorial Hospital: 251 East Huron Street Chicago, IL Phone: 312-926-2000 Rush Medical Center: 1653 West Congress Parkway Chicago, IL Phone: 888-352-7874 Chicago Department of Public Health: 333 South State Street #200 Chicago, IL Phone: 312-747-9884
Equipment for Control Room
One of the most important aspects during a crisis is making sure that you have everything you and media personnel will need, unfortunately this detail can easily get overlooked. Having a well-stocked control room will allow us to focus all of our energy on resolving the crisis at hand. In order to do that we should have at all times: 1. Laptops 2. Chairs 3. Tables 4. Water 5. Coffee 6. Power bars 7. Wireless internet access 8. Batteries 9. Pens 10. Paper 11. Printer Ink 12. Extension Cords 13. Outlets 14. A Mult Box
15. A Podium 16. Microphones 17. Printers 18. Bulletin Boards 19. Walkie Talkies 20. Media Directories 21. Press kits 22. Street and Highway Maps 23. First aid kit
Location of Offices Goodman Theatre: 170 N. Dearborn St. Chicago, IL 312-443-3800
Scene Shop: 363 W. Pershing Rd. Chicago, IL 312-443-3800
Artistic Director – Robert Falls
Robert Falls has been the artistic director of Goodman Theatre since 1986. From 1977 to 1985, he was the artistic director of Wisdom Bridge Theatre. During Mr. Falls’ tenure at the Goodman the company has received a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, been named by Time magazine as “America’s Number One Regional Theatre” and built a new, state-of-the-art theater complex in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. Mr. Falls’ critically acclaimed production of Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh, starring Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy, opened on the Goodman mainstage in May. Earlier this year, he directed the world premiere of Beth Henley’s The Jacksonian for the Geffen Playhouse. His critically acclaimed production of John Logan’s Red, which opened the Goodman’s current season, is now performing at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC. This spring, Mr. Falls will direct Nathan Lane and longtime collaborator Brian Dennehy in a new production of Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh for the Goodman, where his credits also include recent productions of The Seagull, A True History of the Johnstown Flood (world premiere), Hughie, Desire Under the Elms, Shining City (Midwest premiere) and Frank’s Home (world premiere), as well as earlier productions of A Life in the Theatre; Dollhouse (world premiere); Finishing the Picture (world premiere); The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia? (Midwest premiere); Lobby Hero (Midwest premiere); Long Day’s Journey into Night; Blue Surge (world premiere); House and Garden (American premiere); Death of A Salesman; Griller (world premiere); The Young Man from Atlanta; A Touch of the Poet; Three Sisters; Night of the Iguana; Riverview: A Melodrama with Music (world premiere); On the Open Road (world premiere); Book of the Night (world premiere); The Iceman Cometh; The
Misanthrope; The Speed of Darkness (world premiere) ); Pal Joey; Landscape of the Body; The Tempest; and Galileo. Mr. Falls’ Broadway and off-Broadway credits include Desire Under the Elms, American Buffalo, Shining City (American premiere), Talk Radio, Frank’s Home, Long Day’s Journey into Night (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award), Blue Surge, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, Death of a Salesman (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award), The Young Man from Atlanta, Night of the Iguana, The Food Chain (world premiere), The Rose Tattoo, subUrbia (Obie Award), On the Open Road and The Speed of Darkness. Elsewhere, Mr. Falls has directed notable productions of Three Hotels (Williamstown Theatre Festival), King Lear (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Helen Hayes Award), Hughie (Stratford Shakespeare Festival), Death of a Salesman (Lyric Theatre, London), Susannah (Lyric Opera, Metropolitan Opera), The Consul (Lyric Opera), The Iceman Cometh (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), The Misanthrope (La Jolla Playhouse), Pravda (Guthrie Theater), Road (Remains Theatre) and In the Belly of the Beast: Letters from Prison (Lyric Hammersmith, London). Mr. Falls is a past board president of Theatre Communications Group, as well as a past artistic director of Northwestern University’s graduate directing program. Among his many honors are the Illinois Arts Council's Governor's Award for Outstanding Contributions by an Individual Artist, "Chicagoan of the Year" recognition by Chicago magazine, the League of Chicago Theatres' Artistic Leadership Award, election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Lake Forest College, a Special Jeff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Theatre, a Chicago Illini of the Year Award and, most recently, the O’Neill Society Medallion for Outstanding Contributions to the American Theater and the Legacy of Eugene O’Neill.
Executive Director – Roche Edward Schulfer
Roche Edward Schulfer is in his 34th season as executive director and is celebrating 40 years with the Goodman. On September 4, 2013, his 40th anniversary with the theater, Mr. Schulfer was honored with a star on the Goodman’s “Walkway of Stars.” During his tenure he has overseen more than 335 productions, including close to 130 world premieres. He launched the Goodman’s annual production of A Christmas Carol, which celebrates 36 years as Chicago’s leading holiday arts tradition this season. In partnership with Artistic Director Robert Falls, Mr. Schulfer led the establishment of quality, diversity and community engagement as the core values of Goodman Theatre. Under their tenure, the Goodman has received numerous awards for excellence, including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater, recognition by Time magazine as the Best Regional Theatre in the US, the Pulitzer Prize for Lynn Nottage’s Ruined, and many Jeff awards for outstanding achievement in Chicago-area theater. Mr. Schulfer has negotiated the presentation of numerous Goodman productions to many national and international venues. From 1988 to 2000, he coordinated the relocation of the Goodman to Chicago’s Theatre District. He is a founder and two-time chair of the League of Chicago Theatres, the trade
association of more than 200 Chicago area theater companies and producers. Mr. Schulfer has been privileged to serve in leadership roles with Arts Alliance Illinois (the statewide advocacy coalition); Theatre Communications Group (the national service organization for more than 450 not-for-profit theaters): the Performing Arts Alliance (the national advocacy consortium of more than 18,000 organizations and individuals); the League of Resident Theatres (the management association of 65 leading US theater companies); Lifeline Theatre in Rogers Park and the Arts & Business Council. He is honored to have been recognized for his work by Actors’ Equity Association for promoting diversity and equal opportunity in Chicago theater; the American Arts Alliance; the Arts & Business Council for distinguished contributions to Chicago’s artistic vitality for more than 25 years; Chicago magazine and the Chicago Tribune as a “Chicagoan of the Year”; the City of Chicago; Columbia College Chicago for entrepreneurial leadership; Arts Alliance Illinois; the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee for his partnership with Robert Falls; North Central College with an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree; Lawyers for the Creative Arts; Lifeline Theatre’s Raymond R. Snyder Award for Commitment to the Arts; Season of Concern for support of direct care for those living with HIV/AIDS; and the Vision 2020 Equality in Action Medal for promoting gender equality and diversity in the workplace. Mr. Schulfer is a member of the adjunct faculty of The Theatre School at DePaul University, and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he managed the cultural arts commission
The Albert Theatre
The Owen Theatre
Holding Statement This evening during a live performance of the play ___________________ one of the actors on stage was injured while performing a stunt. We at the Goodman Theatre would like to first and foremost say that our thoughts are with this individual and their family. We will also be looking into what exactly caused this injury to occur. Our primary concern is our actors and keeping them safe as we work to bring our shows to life. As of right now tonight’s performance of _________________will be postponed until a later date. We are sorry for any inconveniences this may cause. We will be in contact with the media with any updates; we also encourage patrons to follow this story on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We thank everyone for their support and we will do everything we can to find the cause of this incident.
Key Messages 1. The status of the injured actor 2. Safety precautions for actors that we already have in place 3. The steps we will take to find and fix the cause of injury
News Release For Immediate Release Date________________________ Contact _______________________________________________________________________ (name/phone number)
Actor performing in ___________________________________________injured during show. (CHICAGO) _______________________________ (full name and role playing) was injured during the ______________ (time of performance) live performance of ________________________ at The Goodman Theatre. The actor was taken to ________________________ (hospital) where he/she is being treated for __________________ (injury). Further details will be released by _____________________________(name of spokesperson) at a news conference scheduled for _______________________ (time and date of news conference) at The Goodman Theatre located at 170 North Dearborn Street in Chicago.
Internet Sources The Guthrie Theatre: 818 South 2nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: 612-377-2224
Steppenwolf Theatre 1650 North Halstead Street Chicago, IL 60614 Phone: 312-335-1650
The Orpheum 203 South Main Street Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: 901-525-3000
Alliance Theatre 1280 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309 Phone: 404-733-4650
Social Media Responses Facebook: Playbill: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: You and Me This Morning:
Twitter: Broadwayworld.com: Redeye Chicago: The Chicago Tribune Theater Loop:
Blogs: Chicago Theater Beat: Chicago Theater Addict: From The Ledge:
Evaluation: