New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on May 5th that Broadway theaters will be allowed to open their doors as of September 14th. The news came a day after Cuomo announced that theaters could open on May 19th. In his announcement, Cuomo also said that coronavirus-related state capacity restrictions would be lifted on May 19th. The changes would apply to gyms, shops and at amusement parks.
Broadway shows will be ready to open September 14 at 100% capacity. Tickets go on sale starting tomorrow. Broadway is a major part of our state’s identity and economy, and we are thrilled that the curtains will rise again
Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York
According to Travel + Leisure, Broadway theaters have been closed since March 12th, 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. At the time, there were 31 shows running, including eight in previews, with an additional eight in rehearsals. The period of closure has been extended several times.
The Broadway League stated that it’s not yet clear which particular shows will be back, and that each theater’s health and safety protocols will have to be approved by the state.
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
Charlotte St. Martin, the president of the Broadway League
Forbes magazine reports that with most theaters unable to operate financially at limited capacity, most shows have been unable to fully resume performances. Industry unions have raised concerns with ensuring public health measures are in place to ensure theater workers can resume work safely.
“Nothing beats Broadway. 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.
Cuomo announced that capacity restrictions will also be lifted for fully-vaccinated fans at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, but it will be limited to 33% for un-vaccinated attendees to comply with CDC social distancing rules.
