I always loved the song "I'm Working My Way Back To You", made popular in 1966 by The Four Seasons and also The Spinners in 1980. Hence the title of my post today regarding the future of Broadway Theater reopening's this year.
So far, there are a handful of shows that are selling tickets, hopefully for performances beginning at the end of May 2021 (although I think it'll get pushed back somewhat). Those shows include, Chicago The Musical, Hadestown, Jagged Little Pill, Jersey Boys (Off Broadway),The Music Man with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster (coming in December 2021), Mrs. Doubtfire and The Play That Goes Wrong (another Off Broadway show).
In an effort to try and revive the entertainment life of New York City, Governor Cuomo and local authorities are allowing some large venues like Madison Square Garden and Barclay Center in Brooklyn to start selling tickets to a 10% capacity audience. The NY Knicks and The NY Rangers as well as the Brooklyn Nets will start within days. Along with a ticket of admission, which for sports will probably only allow for some season subscribers to attend before the general public, all attendees will need to present a negative Covid 19 test prior to entry.
Theaters will be more complicated as they are very old and will require improved ventilation. And of course, Broadway doesn't really want to reopen to 10% capacity as show producers will only lose lots of money. Their cost of doing business requires at least 3/4 of the audience to be filled. Otherwise the business model they have simply won't work.
It's worth noting that "testing" is the only way to safely reopen our entertainment venues. We'll need to get used to this. Luckily for us, I think we will see local and fast testing places popping up all over New York in the coming days and weeks ahead.
The Governor himself is on the record as recently saying he would attend a Broadway Show with 150 people in the theater if everyone tested negative. Again, that will not sustain a Broadway Show profit wise unfortunately, although maybe a few wealthy producers might go along with this just a test the future viability regarding larger capacity possibilities in the months ahead. I'm sure a show like "Hamilton" can afford this type of Broadway comeback test. And how cool would it be to happen on July 4th weekend of 2021? Awesome idea right?
Beginning on February 20 and following the successful test with January Buffalo Bills football games that allowed 6700 fans to be tested then attend playoff games, the Governor and his team have helped coordinate the "NYPopsUp" program. The program can be found at
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-marshals-return-performing-arts-new-york-ny-popsup
Over 300 entertainment events will be presented through the five boroughs as well as all over NY State. The program is being designed to be a bridge to New York's safe return and entertainment comeback. It sure makes sense to me. How about you? Exciting stuff my friends.
The events will be free of charge and take place over 100 days or so. I'm sure the state will gather plenty of Covid 19 test information and follow up contact tracing so that hopefully it will lead to a big comeback with entertainment, including Broadway Theater. Wouldn't that be great?
Artists including Alec Baldwin, Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are just a few of the headliner names that will be performing in various shows. Shows and venues will be announced fairly close to performance dates so as not to create too large of a crowd.
As we see the Covid 19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths coming way down (at the moment) along with the ramping up of vaccinations, I'm personally looking forward to seeing a show- any kind of show quite frankly. Maybe we can find a way to remember the dear people we lost to this pandemic prior to the shows.
I've been providing a personal ticket service for Broadway theatergoers all of my working career- 43 years now. Although I'm somewhat looking more toward retirement these days, I just didn't want to "go out' this way. I'd like to see my native New York City make a "comeback", not just so I can sell some tickets. I always loved coming into the city (when we didn't live there). There's nothing like the pulse of New York City for me, whether it's strolling along the Broadway Theater District or just walking the "highline" or watching the changing personalities of each neighborhood every several minutes or so as we walk through them.
Sure, a full comeback will take time, especially waiting for the over 60 million visitors New York has been receiving for years now to return. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. Stay well my friends.
Regards
Rich Gladstone
President
Applause-Tickets.com
Phone 212 307 7050
www.applause-tickets.com
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Much of the state’s plan hinges on a pilot program it conducted in January, where nearly 7,000 football fans were allowed to attend the Buffalo Bills’ home playoff game as long as they presented a negative Covid-19 test.
The governor previously announced at the end of January that New York would allow some venues to reopen for wedding ceremonies with limited capacity beginning on March 15. People will be able to hold a wedding if everyone attending is tested before the event and the organizers receive approval from their local health department beforehand, he said.
“Opening sites with testing is something where New York wants to lead the way,” Cuomo said on Monday.
New York’s first steps to reopen its beleaguered entertainment industry will begin on Feb. 20 with the start of a new “NY PopsUp” initiative. The program will organize more than 300 pop-up performances over 100 days that will be free to watch, though their locations won’t be disclosed beforehand to prevent crowding, Cuomo said.
The initiative will include some big names, such as Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Chris Rock, Billy Porter, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patti Smith and Mandy Patinkin, among others, Cuomo said.
The events will lead up over the summer to the 20th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival in June, Cuomo said. The governor said the program will start with the spontaneous performances and hopefully “migrate” to the opening of some indoor entertainment venues.
“New York leads, and we’re going to lead in bringing back the arts because we’re at a point in time where the future, my friends, is what we make it,” Cuomo said.
