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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has given Broadway shows permission to reopen this month.
Cuomo made the announcement as part of his COVID-19 briefing on May 3. In the speech, he announced the relaxation of social distancing restrictions in certain venues, including restaurants, lounges, gyms and, yes, Broadway theaters. Customers will always need to distance themselves socially and wear masks as a precaution.
The governor further clarified in a May 5 statement that Broadway can reopen at partial capacity as of May 19. Shows can return to full capacity in September, and it can take that long before they see reopens happening.
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“Broadway is at the heart of our New York identity, and a big part of our economy which employs countless artists and showmakers, and from September the show will continue,” Cuomo said. “Visitors from all over the world have come to New York City to experience arts and culture and see iconic Broadway shows, and sadly, the pandemic has put this unique New York experience on hold. Thankfully, as we continue to monitor the data and reopen our economy, we’re now on track to allow full-capacity Broadway performances to resume in September, bringing back this beloved world-famous attraction.
The enormous cost of assembling a production makes performance below a certain capacity financially unsustainable. The announcement of the full capacity September date will allow shows to start selling tickets and help set firmer dates for the reopening. All Broadway theaters have been closed since March 12, 2020.
