Broadway extends shutdown to June 2021

The Broadway League confirmed this week that New York’s theatres will remain closed until at least June 2021.

Initial shutdowns as a result of the COVID pandemic started in in March 2020, so this predicted reopening date marks over a full year of Broadway being dark.

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.

Last week, an ensemble of Broadway performers gathered in Times Square for a socially distanced performance of “Sunday” from Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George. Directed by composer Tom Kitt and Tony honoree Michael McElroy, the performers in attendance included Bernadette Peters, Andrew Rannells, Sierra Boggess, Brandon Victor Dixon, Eden Espinosa, Erika Henningsen,  Ari’el Stachel, Norm Lewis, and Kate Baldwin.

While some smaller companies have gone forward with socially distanced performances (most outdoors), it is unknown when the Broadway theatres will be safe to open their doors. Since most Broadway theatres have a capacity of between 500 and 2,000 seats, even once they do reopen, plans for social distancing and COVID safety will need to be implemented.

Header image: Jeenah Moon