Broadway’s Back! The Reopening of Broadway During Covid
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Broadway was forcibly shut down for almost 20 months. In September 2021, Broadway opened its doors again and welcomed back its viewers. There were conditions to this reopening - important changes needed to be made in order for performers and audience members to remain safe and keep the curtains up for as long as possible.
Post-Covid changes included the controversial requirement that all attendees, performers, and backstage crew be vaccinated. When first reopening in July 2021, the first Broadway production of Springsteen on Broadway had provided its own vaccine requirement for spectators. Nonetheless, due to the surge of Covid cases within the past few months, the vaccine mandate has remained for all Broadway shows. “In the months since, vaccine checks have remained the norm for nearly all indoor entertainment. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's Key to NYC program launched in August (as Delta variant and breakthrough cases rose) and requires patrons to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination at gyms, restaurants, and venues,” according to Playbill.com. While the unvaccinated are disappointed they won’t get to see their favorite show right now, it is important that people are doing everything they can to keep themselves and others safe.
Replacing scenery is something that most people did not think about when coming back to Broadway. It had been a year and a half since people had been in some of the theaters so naturally, they began to collect dust. Design teams and stage crews had to replace dead batteries, test automated devices, dust off dirty fixtures, and re-fireproof safety cloths in order to make sure everything works properly. After a quick check through, most shows were able to reopen soon after. However, others weren’t as lucky. “Six, a new musical which imagines the wives of Henry VIII as pop stars, had to replace all of its plastic-and-foil costumes, which deteriorated even though they had been stored in blankets in an attempt to prevent damage,” states The New York Times. This ended up being a good thing in the long run because the costumes were upgraded.
Unfortunately, Covid has forced some shows to turn off their stage lights for good. When Omicron was at its height in December 2021, about 10 Broadway shows closed permanently. Shows such as Waitress, Ain't Too Proud, and Jagged Little Pill have decided to close their shows early due to the surge in Covid cases within the past few months. Waitress producer, Barry Weissler, said in a statement to Vulture. “We are heartbroken that the Covid virus won’t allow us to finish our glorious scheduled run.” The number of Broadway shows currently running has dropped from 25 to 19.
On January 30, 2022, I went to see my first Broadway show since the pandemic: Chicago. It was surreal to be back in New York City and I felt a sense of normalcy walking around the streets. At the door, ushers asked for vaccination cards and a form of identification, both of which were new for me and for Broadway. Everything felt normal, other than having to remain masked throughout the performance and not being able to eat or drink. Otherwise, the show was incredible and went off without a hitch. It was such a pleasant experience, I would definitely see another one in the future.
Overall, the reopening of Broadway has been a smooth transition. The New York Times states, “There’s an extraordinary new layer of logistics that every show and every theater has learned, adopted, and implemented, said Jordan Roth, the president of Jujamcyn Theaters.” All it takes is a little cooperation from theater-goers. Broadway is back!
