Source: Newsday LLC / Getty
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced Broadway theater productions will reopen at full capacity on Sept. 14 with a some tickets going on sale tomorrow (5/6).
A surprise announcement that comes days after Cuomo said Broadway would not be reopening in two weeks, as many New York City businesses and venues are scheduled to welcome people back for the first time in over a year. He cited the logistics of opening Broadway to full capacity with no lead time as the reason it would remain closed for the next six months.
Broadway has been shut down since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020.
Cuomo and The Broadway League have previously indicated that a rough date of mid-September would be necessary for a proper reopening. However, the governor’s announcement with a firm date of Sept. 14 is the first specific time frame provided by the state.
As of now, no Broadway production has set a specific September opening date. Today’s announcement puts ticket sales for major productions such as Hamilton, The Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked, and The Music Man as likely favorites to be back on the schedule.
Although, both Cuomo and the League are “cautiously optimistic” about Fall reopening plans.
“We remain cautiously optimistic about Broadway’s ability to resume performances this fall and are happy that fans can start buying tickets again,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. Cuomo sounded a bit more optimistic, saying in a tweet, “Broadway is a major part of our state’s identity and economy, and we are thrilled that the curtains will rise again.”
At the time of the shutdown, 31 productions were running, including 8 new shows in previews. Additionally, 8 productions were in rehearsals preparing to open that spring, according to deadline.
Broadway set to reopen at full capacity in NYC on Sept. 14 was originally published on wbt.com
