Broadway reopening

[SandyRussell]

Posted: 4/23/21 at 11:27pm

Have heard that Company will begin performances in late October and Hadestown and Ain't Too Proud are re-opening in mid-late October.  Any word about September openings.   There had been rumors about Hamilton kick-starting a return in July; any further information?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/24/21 at 12:32am

Not yet to my knowledge. But even though Diana was the first B'way show to officially announce a reopening date, I'm pretty confident there will be other shows that will actually reopen before they do.

Updated On: 4/24/21 at 12:32 AM

[dangeresque49]

Posted: 4/24/21 at 3:52pm

Either the numbers pummet soon like in Israel or there will be huge pressure to implement a vaccine pass from those fully vaccinated. I can't see that taking until october.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 10:14am

Couldn’t find the more established threads so just adding these here:

"In New York, Broadway shows are returning in the fall and I’m expecting an on-sale announcement to happen in two or three weeks. The naysayers will, I think, be surprised at the size of the returning slate: a few shows won’t be reopening (they’d have been closed by now anyway) but the vast majority very much fancy their chances in a booming fall, especially since New York has announced a huge investment designed to help the tourism sector recover."

from Chicago Tribune

Also from Ken Davenport so I guess take with a grain of salt heh but he does rise a good and exciting point “And, thankfully, NYC is going to spend $30mm on a massive marketing campaign to encourage tourists to come to NYC.   Since those tourists represent 65% of the Broadway audience, this is a big boon to Broadway.  By NYC shouldering some of the load, it will take some of the lifting off our industry’s and each specific show’s shoulders.

The campaign begins in June...Broadway shows are going to announce they are coming back BEFORE this campaign.  And I predict you’ll see announcements of big shows on sale in the next 2-4 weeks. ”

and lastly just a tweet so who knows but given all these other takes it seems plausible “Soooooo I have some insider info on Broadway reopening dates and I am shaking. It’s coming y’all!” https://twitter.com/ayannaprescod/status/1386789326378475526?s=21

As someone who has been pretty pessimistic, I’m feeling fairly hopeful!! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 10:25am

I had always said I expected June to be when shows would launch their reopening announcements so happy to know sounds about right. And until right now it didn’t even click that June really is only about 4 weeks away.
Crazy how this year is flying by.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 10:29am

Maybe the Tony Awards happen during their usual June slot to go with the grand announcement of Broadway reopening.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 1:29pm

Announcements in June, Tonys is Sept, perhaps along with the first trickle of shows. Notwithstanding what some are quoted as saying, it will be slow through the fall and luckily the Davenports of the world are not major players. Although it would make sense for KD to add a post-covid flop to his unbroken string. lol I think it will take until the 22-23 season for us to feel like the pandemic's effects are in the rear view mirror.

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 1:51pm

dangeresque49 said: "Either the numbers pummet soon like in Israel or there will be huge pressure to implement a vaccine pass from those fully vaccinated. I can't see that taking until october."

Hopefully the covid cases will continue to decrease. I just looked at this chart and it looks to be decreasing similar to a year ago here in NY state. Most if not all my friends have had at least their first vaccine shot here in nyc. 

https://covidactnow.org/us/new_york-ny/chart/5?s=1791710

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 1:55pm

I’d hope the Tonys can be postponed until they’re able to have a big ceremony. Since they’re essentially a commercial for Broadway (“Go See a Broadway Show!”) a production number on the street in front of nobody with zero applause ain’t exactly the kind of sales pitch you want to make to the world that it’s safe to go back to the theater.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 2:12pm

HogansHero said: "Announcements in June, Tonys is Sept, perhaps along with the first trickle of shows. Notwithstanding what some are quoted as saying, it will be slowthrough the fall and luckily theDavenports of the world are not major players. Although it would make sense for KD to add a post-covid flop to his unbroken string. lolI think it will take until the 22-23 season for us to feel like the pandemic's effects are in the rear view mirror."

Hogan, as much as I truly do appreciate all your posts and your realism, while reluctant to believe a year ago out of denial, I think Chris Jones was talking to people like you when he said “The naysayers will, I think, be surprised at the size of the returning slate”. Time will tell and hopefully in just a few weeks! 

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 2:13pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I had always said I expected June to be when shows would launch their reopening announcements so happy to know sounds about right. And until right now it didn’t even click that June really is only about 4 weeks away.
Crazy how this year is flying by."

Slightly on topic.  I spoke to a representative last night with Caesar Hotels Entertainment.  She told me that on June 1, all shows in Las Vegas will go on sale at full occupancy.  So June 1 for NYC shows to, at the least, announce some sort of reopen, does not sound that farfetched.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 2:19pm

It’s crazy to think that we’re only a few weeks away from seeing the beginning of the end of this whole thing. I was talking with a friend this morning about how we’re most probably gonna have a Flea Market this September which would only be 19 weeks away.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 2:25pm

Slightly off topic.  What is surprising to me is how fast, half of all US  adults have been vaccinated.  Now if the other half get their head out of their a**, we could really see the beginning of the end.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 2:26pm

I believe some kind of “Welcome Back Broadway” televised event would be well received when the time comes. Host(s) outside various spots in Times Square, anecdotes, and performances from various shows, inside their theaters, with live audiences watching. If done right, this could be everything the NBC December special was not.

[unclevictor]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 2:43pm

Jordan Catalano said: "It’s crazy to think that we’re only a few weeks away from seeing the beginning of the end of this whole thing. I was talking with a friend this morning about how we’re most probably gonna have a Flea Market this September which would only be 19 weeks away."

The flea market would be nice! However...not sure how they’d pull it off. With most shows probably still not open, they’d have to pull a rabbit out of their hat to put it on. Shows depend on cast and crew to donate items. Casts do poster signings in house... not sure the show could get their casts together to sign posters... or get their casts together period. 

[veronicamae]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 3:39pm

unclevictor said: "Jordan Catalano said: "It’s crazy to think that we’re only a few weeks away from seeing the beginning of the end of this whole thing. I was talking with a friend this morning about how we’re most probably gonna have a Flea Market this September which would only be 19 weeks away."

The flea market would be nice! However...not sure how they’d pull it off. With most shows probably still not open, they’d have to pull a rabbit out of their hat to put it on. Shows depend on cast and crew to donate items. Casts do poster signings in house... not sure the show could get their casts together to sign posters... or get their casts together period."

I don't think it's as impossible as you're suggesting. People can bring their items to a central location, including directly to their table at flea market. This of course assumes there are cast/crew who are "active" with a show, but that should largely be resolved by that time.

They also don't need to specifically have fully signed cast posters, though many shows will likely at least be in rehearsals come September, if not all shows, if a group gathering was needed for some reason. Plus, there is almost assuredly plenty of stuff sitting in various storage places from year's past. They keep trotting out the same bins of Playbills and whatnot every year, blah blah.

It could easily be a scaled back event, no need to have all the photo ops and signings and such. And the grand auction could center around ticket/hotel/dining/travel packages.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 5:29pm

LesWickedly said: "Hogan, as much as I truly do appreciate all your posts and your realism, while reluctant to believe a year ago out of denial, I think Chris Jones was talking to people like you when he said “The naysayers will, I think, be surprised at the size of the returning slate”. Time will tell and hopefully in just a few weeks!"

I might agree he was talking to people like me except that the link on "naysayers" seems directed at Karen Olivo et al rather than people who base their opinion on an analysis of the business of Broadway. He certainly does not explain the basis for his belief, and his anti-progressivism shtick (which is what he was doingin the earlier piece) doesn't really connect any dots. I am very optimistic about the future, but I am also realistic about what the market will sustain. If some crazies were to open 20 shows before Spring, how many would be around to celebrate Easter? Not many I'm afraid. And the last thing we need (IMO, of course) is a string of failures to announce our grand reopening. 

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 2:35pm

Moulin Rouge announcing their return date in May per their IG story. 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 2:42pm

Jordan Levinson said: "I believe some kind of “Welcome Back Broadway” televised event would be well received when the time comes. Host(s) outside various spots in Times Square, anecdotes, and performances from various shows, inside their theaters, with live audiences watching. If done right, this could be everything the NBC December special was not.

"

I'd imagine that's what the Tonys are going to be for

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 2:57pm

BroadwayGirl107 said: "Jordan Levinson said: "I believe some kind of “Welcome Back Broadway” televised event would be well received when the time comes. Host(s) outside various spots in Times Square, anecdotes, and performances from various shows, inside their theaters, with live audiences watching. If done right, this could be everything the NBC December special was not.

"

I'd imagine that's what the Tonys are going to be for"

Problem is, you can't possibly lure people to see Slave Play and The Inheritance, seeing as they already closed in NY before the shutdown and have no touring plans as far as I know. As for the musicals, there will be much more than Tina, Jagged Little Pill, and Moulin Rouge! to promote. Every single show (even the long-runners and those yet to open) is in the same boat, and they all have to start from scratch in getting people to go to Times Square and see their respective productions.

[unclevictor]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 3:29pm

It’s exciting about the announcement today but I’d rely more on what the Broadway league is saying - hopefully September. Hope it all works out. It’s gonna be challengingly
We probably won’t see any new shows until next fall.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 3:38pm

“Flying Over Sunset” and “Caroline or Change” are still slated to start later this year.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 3:45pm

Jordan Levinson said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "I'd imagine that's what the Tonys are going to be for"

Problem is, you can't possibly lure people to see Slave Play and The Inheritance, seeing as they already closed in NY before the shutdown and have no touring plans as far as I know. As for the musicals, there will be much more than Tina, Jagged Little Pill, and Moulin Rouge! to promote. Every single show (even the long-runners and those yet to open) is in the same boat, and they all have to start from scratch in getting people to go to Times Square and see their respective productions."

The expectation that the Tonys would only feature performances from nominated shows has no precedent, though. The Lion King opened the show with "Circle of Life" in 2008, the national touring company of Legally Blonde performed "So Much Better" in 2009, multiple Frankie Vallis from various companies of Jersey Boys performed in 2009, the Royal Caribbean cast of Hairspray performed in 2012 - and those are just the examples I can think of off the top of my head. Even if there was precedent, this would be a great time to break it, seeing as they entire slate of nominated musicals (new and revival) consists of only three shows.

I fully expect the Tonys to function as the "Welcome Back" event you're picturing, and anticipate performances from many shows, whether they be long-running, nominees from the 2019/2020 season, or shows planning to open on Broadway during the first several months of its return.

Updated On: 4/29/21 at 03:45 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 3:53pm

I'm expecting that discounts will be plentiful when the shows resume performing.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/29/21 at 3:55pm

Im actually expecting the opposite. They have lost over a billion dollars over the past year, the industry is hurting. I think tickets will be very expensive for the first 6 months.