The live shows of Broadway will return to the stage on September 14 after an 18-month hiatus to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the governor of New York announced Wednesday, Andrew Cuomo.
Tickets will go on sale Thursday and theaters will be able to operate at 100% capacity, Cuomo said. Broadway theaters are one of the main New York tourist attractions.
“Broadway is an important part of our state’s identity and economy and we are excited for the curtains to rise again,” the Governor said on Twitter.
Live theater is one of the last sectors to return after the pandemic due to the challenges of social distancing for actors, backstage crews, and narrow-seat audiences in old buildings.
Thousands of actors, dancers, musicians and backstage workers were left without work when the theaters of Broadway They closed in March 2020. Some shows, like the hit musicals “Frozen” and “Mean Girls,” have said they won’t be returning.
Thirty-one Broadway shows were in production when the shutdown began.
Each show will announce its comeback date in the coming weeks, said the Broadway League, an industry group.
More than 14.8 million tickets were sold for Broadway plays in the 2018-19 season that culminated in May, generating $ 1.8 billion, according to the Broadway League.
About 63% of showgoers were tourists, from outside the United States or outside of New York.
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