by Amanda Jane Snyder
As of April 2, 2021, New York will allow limited performances to resume. Productions with audiences up to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors will be permitted!
But what does that mean for Broadway?
Unfortunately, with only 100 people in attendance, most, if not all, Broadway productions will be unable to operate at this capacity.
To make a theatre production run you need the actors of course, but you also need directors, choreographers, producers, stage managers, stage hands, orchestra, ushers, box office staff and more, many more. How much would a ticket need to cost in order to pay these people a living wage with only 100 attendees in the audience? And would 100 people even feel safe to attend? How much would those tickets cost? And not only to pay, but to make a profit.
For the Broadway community, a revival of pre-COVID feels hopeless. "Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart" as Rodgers and Hammerstein remind us in the musical Carousel. Many keep this sentiment close and believe this isn't the end of Broadway, but merely intermission.
With live theare not returning anytime soon, many productions are taking to film. And by film I mean, they are recording and releasing their respective shows for our home viewing pleasure!
At the moment, live theatre in NYC is not set to return until September, whereas other cities are saying it won't be safe to return until December.
What do you think? Do you feel safe returning to a live production? When will you feel safe? What has to be in place for you to feel safe in a large crowd? Comment below your thoughts.