When Will Broadway Shows Return? Here's Why They Won't Come Back All At Once...

Broadway has been dark since mid-March, when the coronavirus pandemic began surging in the New York area and forced mass gatherings to take an extended pause.

The magic of Broadway and live theater will be getting a national spotlight this evening (December 10) with the One Night Only: The Best of Broadway special on NBC.

Tina Fey is hosting a special that will feature performances from the casts of shows like Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill, Ain’t Too Proud, Jersey Boys, Chicago, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as stars like Kelly Clarkson and Patti LaBelle.

So, when will Broadway shows finally return to New York City and begin welcoming audiences again?

Click inside for the details…

Broadway shows are officially remaining dark until May 30, 2021, though shows are not expected to return until the summer at the earliest.

Page Six is reporting that New York’s Governor Cuomo is expecting to give the green light for Broadway shows to resume performances in June, but at a limited capacity. As you probably know, seats in a Broadway theater are so close together and leave no space for social distancing. If they perform at a limited capacity, most shows will have to operate at a loss because they won’t sell enough tickets to cover costs.

Hamilton is expected to be the first show to return thanks to the enormous profits the show has made over the years, which will allow it to run at a loss. A re-opening date of July 4, 2021 is being discussed.

Most shows are expecting to resume performances in Fall 2021, but it’s likely that shows will have to stagger their openings. There are many factors to consider, including how not every cast member might be available to return, which means recasting will take place, lots of rehearsal time will be needed, and new costumes will have to be made. Every show is going to have its own timetable and we’ll have to wait and see what happens!