Theater and the virus

The Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, is affecting many aspects of entertainment, like films being pushed back and concerts being cancelled.But one of the biggest areas being affected is the closing of Broadway in NYC until April 12th. The industry is expected to lose well above $150 million from the closure. Last year Brodaway had its highest attendance record in history and closing for this long will no doubt result in a gigantic loss for producers. Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time that Broadway has shut down. After the 9/11 attack, Broadway closed for two days, yet that closure is nowhere near the current 32 day stretch ahead. For many, it’s unclear as to what exactly is going to happen because of the closures. Many believe that there will be some shows that financially can’t continue after opening broadway again, which is sad for audiences who love a wide variety of shows. Some shows, like the highly anticipated Six, can no longer open on their original date. With shows being cancelled, people being fired, and shows not opening, many in the Broadway community are scared. When everything is laid on the table as to what could happen, it’s easy to see how much this is going to affect Broadway.

The coronavirus isn’t just affecting theatre in NYC though, national tours are also being canceled. Most shows are being cancelled in cities across the country until at least the end of March. For example, the Jesus Christ Superstar tour is being put on an indefinite hiatus, not knowing exactly when they will be back on the road. Unfortunately, this means many people who planned on viewing performances in their city won’t be able to, considering all shows must stay on schedule after deciding it’s safe enough for the tour to continue.

The show Anastasia is meant to be the next national tour in Minneapolis, beginning March 24th, and it has yet to be cancelled. However, the chances of this musical based on the Grand Duchess of Russia taking the Orpheum’s stage are slim to none. Sophomore Kendall Lawless has tickets to the show and shared with me her thoughts about the possible cancellation saying, “I’m really sad that it’s probably going to get cancelled. Anastasia is a show that I fell in love with when I first listened to the soundtrack. I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world, but, at the same time, I realize the severity of the situation we’re in and it’s understandable if it were to get cancelled.”

Knowing that many people won’t get to see their favorite show on Broadway is upsetting. Broadway is known for bringing so much joy to people of all races ,religion and gender. It’s a way that many people escape from rough times in their life and it seems like now we need an escape more than ever. It’s a scary time for many and nobody knows just how the severe the cancellations could get. So all we can do now is hope that everything will blow over soon enough so that people can once again see the curtain open.