Broadway Opening Back Up

By Maisie Carroll

One of the first things that happened when quarantine first started, was Broadway closed down. The close happened on March 12th. As one of the most well known parts of New York, it came as a shock to many people. It did make sense though. Broadway has many theaters that are very much enclosed, packed in, and full of people from all over the world, as it is a popular tourist attraction. Over a year later after the close, Broadway is finally opening again. 

This September many Broadway shows will be opening back up again. The opening was announced by Broadway League and Governor Andrew Cuomo. Tickets are now available for sale. While the official opening is in September, the first performances of shows vary from September to December. The shows open vary from classics like Wicked and Phantom of the Opera, to lesser known (but still incredible) shows such as Ain’t Too Proud and Jagged Little Pill.

This announcement has come along with the release of the vaccine, and many people in New York getting their shots. There have also been announcements of vaccinated people not needing to wear masks. Many people question whether these announcements are coming too fast, and that we are not yet close to herd immunity. Broadway has also always been a tourist destination. A large number of the people who go and watch the shows are people visiting New York. The reopening could cause more people to come in from outside of New York to see it, and the interactions between so many people could lead to more COVID cases. And there is still the question of one of the main reasons Broadway was closed in the first place. It is a closed space packed with people. There are many things to consider when it comes to Broadway opening back up.

Is it safe to open up Broadway already? Or should we wait a little bit longer? Or is this just a positive sign that life is slowly getting back to normal?

One thing is sure. This is a huge step, but could be a great step towards going back to normal life before the quarantine.