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Photos: This Is What Broadway Looked Like When It Went Dark
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 13, 2020
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Gretchen Robinette / Gothamist
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 13, 2020
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On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Broadway shows will suspend all performances immediately to try to curtail the spread of COVID-19, with all productions going dark until at least April 13th. The decision came after a week in which the industry struggled to decide on the best course of action in the midst of the pandemic, until they were ultimately forced to shutter.
We sent photographer Gretchen Robinette out on Thursday night to show New Yorkers what Broadway looks like when it goes dark—at least proverbially, since most of the theaters still had tons of lights on outside their doors. Check out the photos in the gallery up above.
There are currently 31 musicals and plays on Broadway, including several that were set to open this week—that includes a few hotly-anticipated potential Tony contenders, including Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Sing Street, The Minutes, Six and Hangmen.
Broadway has gone dark before, but never for this long a period of time. After September 11th, theaters were shut for 48 hours before reopening. In 2007, there was an 18-day stagehands strike against the Shubert, Jujamcyn, and Nederlander Theaters, and in 2003 there was a four-day Broadway musicians strike that impacted many musicals.
“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."
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.
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.
It has been forecasted that the economic impact of Broadway shutting down could 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."
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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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