Over the past year and a half, COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our daily lives. New York City was a place that was heavily affected by the pandemic. There were many places there that shut down, which had a major impact on the city as a whole. Leading up to this, there was no way for anyone to predict the impact that COVID would have on businesses.
Living in NYC during this time was a weird experience.
There was no one on the streets, and it was eerie to see Broadway empty and no shows playing. Broadway has been closed for over a year after NYC was shut down in March, 2020. When someone walks past the ticket booth in the middle of Manhattan, the signs tell you that there are no shows playing and to stay home and stay safe.
In May, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that restrictions would be lifted from the city on May 19, 2021.
“Cuomo acknowledged that the various industries, including Broadway, “may make their own economic decisions’” about when to reopen in an article titled Actors’ Equity Calls Cuomo’s Lifting Of Venue Restrictions “Unexpected” But Welcome; Governor Says Theaters Can But Likely Won’t Reopen In May – Update, by Deadline.
Broadway, he said, has its own schedule: “‘they have to produce a play before they can sell the play, but from capacity point of view they can all reopen on May 19.’ The Broadway League, and well as various other industry insiders, have indicated that a September reopening of some shows is likely.”
This was the case. Though NYC began to open back up in May, Broadway’s first show opened on Aug. 4. The play is called “Pass Over.” It is a play written by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu that tells the story of two young black men who stand at a street corner for hours, praying for a miracle to come their way. The actors were all required to be vaccinated, and the guests had to be masked. They were, however, able to play the show at 100% capacity.
The big musicals like “Hamiliton” and “Lion King” did not open until September. There are restrictions that are still in place. Broadway’s website says that they require all audience members, performers, backstage crew, and theatre staff to be vaccinated. Those that are over twelve need to show ID as well as prove their vaccination status. Those that are twelve or below need to show a negative test in order to be able to get in.
Broadway hopes to review this policy again December 1 for the shows that are starting Jan. 23, 2022. There are limited exceptions allowing for masking and testing for those that have a medical exemption. It is nice that Broadway is finally able to be open though there are restrictions.
NYC is finally picking up again after the year that it was quiet and empty. You can now walk down Broadway and see the lights from the theaters on and you can see the bustling of people going about to make sure that they are able to get in.
Broadway is back and NYC is thriving again.