Broadway League Announces Continuing Closures for NYC Theatres

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 9, 2020

 

The Broadway League today (October 9) announced that New York City’s Broadway theatres will extend the suspension of performances through May 30, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.  Individual theatres will then determine the start dates and performance schedules for their respective shows.  As more information becomes available and theatres solidify the dates for raising their curtains, The Broadway League will make the schedules available to theatre patrons. 

After closing March 12 due to rising coronavirus numbers and state restrictions, the theatres hoped to reopen sometime in January.  (The first reopening had been anticipated for Labor Day 2020... but obviously that didn’t happen.)  Some shows, such as Disney’s Frozen at the St. James Theatre, announced that they had taken their final curtain calls, and would not return post-pandemic. (See the DisneyBizJournal story here.)

 

“With nearly 97,000 workers who rely on Broadway for their livelihood and an annual economic impact of $14.8 billion to the city, our membership is committed to re-opening as soon as conditions permit us to do so. We are working tirelessly with multiple partners on sustaining the industry once we raise our curtains again,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League.

 

Shows on hiatus right now include Disney’s Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre and The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre. The Broadway on Tour version of Disney’s Frozen has touring dates scheduled in a number of cities beginning in February, as does The Lion King tour (beginning in March), but performances of the tours may be canceled or postponed due to the evolving coronavirus situation. Check with the specific theatre’s box office or website for clarifications, refunds and information.

 

Guests who purchased tickets for Broadway performances through May 30, 2021, should contact their point of purchase for refunds or exchanges.  For additional COVID-19 theatre updates, go to The Broadway League website here.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.