As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic Broadway Theatres closed on March 12. The Broadway League has just announced they will now remain closed until at least 30 May 2021.
Broadway theatre are to remain closed. Photo: Shubert Organisation.
This will mean that Broadway Theatres will have been closed for over a year since the curtain came down due to the pandemic.
The industry body responsible for Broadway Theatres - The Broadway League has announced that all Broadway productions will remain closed through 30 May. They had extended preliminary re-open dates on several occassions but felt that in light of statements from Gov. Cuomo saying theatres would not re-open in Phase 4 but would require further study, this new date was warranted.
According to the Broadway League, these dates are not actual signals of when productions might resume but rather a determination of how late productions will opffer refunds and exchanges.
New productions including MJ, The Music Man, Flying Over Sunset, Caroline Or Change, Plaza Suite, American Buffalo and the Minutes had all hoped to open this Spring.
Of the 24 shows open and running on Broadway before the shutdown Frozen, Hangmen and Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? have already announced they will not return. An additional five shows were in previews with the UK hit Six actually stopped short of its opening night by an hour.
The Metropolitan Opera announced last month it would be closed until Autumn 2021 and hoped that a vaccine might be in play by that time.
Broadway League President Charlotte St Martin said:- "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."
The League will also be moving forward with a digital presentation of the 2020 Tony Awards. Nominations are being announced on 25 October. To be kept informed of the latest Broadway news join our Mailing List
Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.
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