(Lauren Steussy’s article appeared in the New York post, 3/11; via Pam Green.)
It’s been almost exactly a year since Broadway went dark due to the coronavirus pandemic — but now there’s light on the horizon of the Great White Way.
Broadway insiders are finally looking toward reopening after months of delayed optimism. But it will still be a while before you can see shows again, said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League.
St. Martin told NBC4 New York that productions are expected to hit stages with audiences and all by the fall. This comes after some had hoped for a reopening early this year.
“At this point, we’re thinking early fall, perhaps early September. That’s the way things are pointing,” she said.
She expects that some of Broadway’s long-running favorites will be the first to reopen — think “The Lion King,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Wicked” — because the cast of those shows “has muscle memory,” St. Martin said.
Broadway is coming back, but not right away.Getty Images
As for what that reopening will look like — maybe don’t expect the same experience you enjoyed a year ago, pre-COVID-19. Masks will probably still be worn inside. And St. Martin said the league hasn’t ruled out asking theatergoers for some kind of proof of a negative test or vaccination.
“While we don’t know if that’s going to be the case, I think we would be very supportive of that because we cannot afford to reopen without knowing our cast, our crew, our audience is gonna be safe,” St. Martin said.
