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People walk outside Hamilton at Richard Rodgers Theatre in Times Square on May 12, 2021 in New York City.
Theater insiders give a sense of what to expect when the curtains rise on Sept. 14.
When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on May 5 that Broadway would light up again on Sept. 14 after what will end up being an unprecedented 18-month hiatus, the theater community and audiences celebrated even as questions remain about what a post-pandemic Great White Way looks like.
One thing about the reopening, however, was established at least a year ago – unlike movie theaters, which have opened with partially distanced seating, Broadway would come back only at 100% capacity.
As Broadway Plans Its Return, âHamiltonâ Will Require Vaccines Backstage
With 23 shows setting Broadway reopening dates, audiences can expect full crowds, masks and flexible ticketing policies. But not lower prices.
Outside the Broadhurst Theater, where the musical âJagged Little Pillâ plans to reopen on Oct. 21.Credit.Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
May 13, 2021Updated 2:49 p.m. ET
As Broadway prepares for a fall reopening, the âHamiltonâ producer Jeffrey Seller said he will mandate that all of his showâs employees, including the cast and the backstage crew, be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Seller is the first producer to make such a declaration publicly, and it is not clear whether any of Broadwayâs many labor unions could or would challenge such an effort. Brandon Lorenz, a spokesman for the Actorsâ Equity Association, said of a vaccination requirement, âThat would be something we would find acceptable, a
Orlando Shakes’ high-profile production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Lake Eola Park is more than the theater’s first in-person show in over a year: It’s the first Orlando-area play to be approved by Actors’ Equity Association, or AEA, the New York-based union for professional performers and stage managers. That puts Orlando Shakes at the forefront of bringing professional actors back to work.
Cityâs new outdoor performance program faces criticism from actors union
Union slams NYC outdoor performance program
Actors Equity, the union that represents theater actors, is slamming New York City s new outdoor performing arts initiative.
NEW YORK - New York City is now accepting applications for its new outdoor performance program, Open Culture, but at the same time Actors Equity, the union that represents theatre actors is slamming the new endeavor, claiming it fails to provide basic Covid-19 and financial-related assurances. It is surprising this program was brought to the public without a little bit more forethought, said Actors Equity spokesman Brandon Lorenz.
Earlier this week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that he was lifting state mandates on mask wearing as well as capacity limits on gatherings. The move brought criticism from public health officials as well as the Biden administration, which called it “Neanderthal thinking.” Currently, Harris County remains under red alert due to the high number of COVID-19 cases, including all four of the known mutations.
Performance venues also reacted with horror at Abbott’s re-opening, and it looks like they will not be pretending that the danger has passed.
“We don’t give two shits what Abbott says, we’ll stop enforcing masks when it’s safe to do so,” said the official Facebook page for Neil’s Bar, which hosts gaming tournaments and the occasional electro-pop band. “PLEASE still show up to Houston businesses with your mask ready! It’s about slowing the spread and protecting others.”