If Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the green light, several of the prestigious theaters would have to wait until the start of the school year to welcome spectators again.
The 40 or so prestigious Broadway theaters will once again be able to host musicals and other entertainment starting May 19, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference on Monday. He announced the lifting of most restrictions on restaurants, bars, museums, gymnasiums and theaters, which have prevented them from opening their doors for more than a year. Social distancing will still be in effect, however, unless there is proof of vaccination or recent negative test, Cuomo said.
A surprise announcement for Broadway League pros, who were more expecting a reopening for next fall, reports the Hollywood Reporter, after Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcements in March. Andrew Cuomo, however, acknowledged that it would likely take longer for venues to accommodate audiences, as they need to manage rehearsals, distribution and ticket sales, as well as set up sanitary protocols. The governor explained that he left the theaters “make their own economic decision as to when to reopen».
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The Broadway League, the association that brings together prestigious theaters, reacted in the Hollywood Reporter, applauding “ the governor’s recent announcement to relax capacity limits for performance halls in New York State. We are encouraged by this good news, which is a long-awaited indication that New York is truly on the road to recovery.“. However, the association was quite cautious about opening in mid-May, preferring to give the fall deadline: “We look forward to reopening at full capacity and are working to safely welcome the public and returning employees to Broadway theaters this fall. As always, we continue to work closely with our elected officials and will share more information as soon as the plans are finalized.».
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A key reopening for New York’s good economic recovery, since Broadway theaters welcomed nearly 15 million people in 2018-2019, and would contribute nearly $ 14 billion to the city’s economy according to the Broadway League . Finally, still according to the association, their theaters allow the employment of more than 96,000 people.
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