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Cuomo Shuts Down Broadway, Limits Public Gatherings To Under 500 People
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 12, 2020
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 12, 2020
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that Broadway shows will suspend all performances immediately to try to curtail the spread of coronavirus. All shows will be shut down until at least April 13th, 2020.
In addition, Cuomo has banned all public gatherings consisting of more than 500 people, with the exceptions of schools, hospitals, mass transit, and nursing homes. He also said during the press conference that even venues with under 500 people must keep space capacity at 50% or under. With the exception of Broadway, which goes into effect today, that ban will be effective beginning 5 p.m. on March 13th.
“Our top priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatergoers and the thousands of people who work in the theatre industry every day, including actors, musicians, stagehands, ushers, and many other dedicated professionals,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League, the trade group representing theater owners and producers. “Broadway has the power to inspire, enrich and entertain, and together we are committed to making that vital spirit a reality. Once our stages are lit again, we will welcome fans back with open arms so that they can continue to experience the joy, heart, and goodwill that our shows so passionately express every night.”
She adds that people holding tickets for performances through April 12th should "contact their point of purchase for refunds and exchanges."
On Wednesday, it was reported that a Broadway usher who worked at two theaters recently, including a new revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Booth Theater, had reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. We spoke to another usher who thought the dangers of coronavirus had been greatly exaggerated: "Honestly, I may be in the minority on this, because it's not the plague, AIDS, or polio...just another form of a flu. The scaremongering news tactics are what's upsetting people, not the actual illness. Zika was worse than this. I don't get the hype about it at all. I expect the theaters to shut down, but that's only if the mayor decides to. It's just ridiculous, really."
As Gothamist reported earlier this week, the industry was reluctant to shutter until now both because of a desire to keep people employed with their productions, and also because if a Broadway production cancels shows voluntarily, it will not receive insurance coverage for loss of income. If there is a government mandate to close, as there is now, losses incurred after two closed shows could be covered.
As Broadway World noted, it's been forecasted that the economic impact of Broadway going dark is will see the industry possibly losing "well over $100 million due to the drop in tourism spending being felt in the accommodation, hospitality, and food industries, in addition to many others."
It's unclear what how this shift will affect several plays which were slated to open tonight or in the next few weeks, including Six, a new musical about the wives of Henry VIII, Lincoln Center Theatre's Flying Over Sunset, and revivals of Caroline, or Change and Plaza Suite.
The Post writes: "The Minutes, a new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts that was to open Sunday night, is likely to close and never return. [UPDATE: a spokesperson for The Minutes says it is planning to reopen the week of April 13th.] Martin McDonagh’s acclaimed Hangmen is also unlikely to open this season, though it could come back in the fall. Sing Street, a new musical currently in rehearsals, will try to open in the fall, propped up by money from Barbara Broccoli, the producer of the James Bond movies. The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest-running show that draws heavily on foreign tourists, may well close down for good, sources said."
Tagged
COVID-19
coronavirus
broadway
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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