by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
May 7, 2021
It has been nearly fourteen months since the lights were dimmed on Broadway stages due to the pandemic, but with the coronavirus showing signs of allowing people to return to some sense of normalcy, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week announced that Broadway will be able to reopen on September 14, 2021. Tickets for a few shows even went on sale yesterday, and The Phantom of the Opera goes on sale today for performances beginning October 22. Phantom is Broadway’s longest running show.
According to a statement from the Governor’s office, theaters will be able to open at 100% capacity. The governor’s announcement was met with enthusiasm, as the return of Broadway means not only high-quality entertainment for theatre patrons, but the return of numerous jobs for the industry, from actors to support staff to local restaurants which depend on show traffic each night. The Governor’s office reports that nearly 100,000 jobs are supported by the Broadway shows, with $14.7 billion dollars tied to the New York economy, and prior to the pandemic, nearly 250,000 patrons a week attended Broadway shows.
“We are thrilled that Governor Cuomo clearly recognizes the impact of Broadway’s return on the city and state’s economy and the complexity of restarting an entire industry that has been dormant for over a year,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “Nothing beats Broadway. The theatre owners, producers, and other League members will continue to work with the NY State Department of Health and the Governor to coordinate the industry’s return and the related health and safety protocols required to do so. We remain cautiously optimistic about Broadway’s ability to resume performances this fall and are happy that fans can start buying tickets again.”
But while some shows might be prepared to raise their curtains in September, others may need more time to reopen, due to rehearsal schedules, staffing concerns, and theatre logistics. The Music Man and Diana: The Musical have both reported December starts for their performances. It is expected that each Broadway show will announce their sale dates, performance schedules and timelines on a show-by-show basis. A number of the theatres, however, are expected to share their plans in the next few days, including Hamilton and The Lion King.
According to the Broadway League, when Broadway shut down on March 12, 2020, thirty-one productions were running, including eight new shows in previews, with another eight productions in rehearsals for spring openings. Disney had three shows performing: Frozen, The Lion King and Aladdin. Sadly, Frozen saw its final performance the evening of the shutdowns, and will not be returning to the New York stage.
For the most up-to-date new performance schedule for the shows, head to each show’s own website, or to the Broadway League’s website.
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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.
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