With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the United States has been able to open up numerous businesses, events, and other functions with certain modifications. Some of these events include the reopening of Broadway and artistic performances such as plays, musicals, and concerts.
The most recent reports state that Broadway should be able to reopen soon. Broadway theatres in New York City were affected by the coronavirus just like the rest of the world, and they were forced to close down on March 12, 2020 (newyorktheatreguide.com). These shows have been closed ever since, but the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that Broadway restrictions would be lifted on May 19th. However, just because they are allowed to reopen does not mean they will do so quite so soon. Actors and actresses need time to “rehearse, recast and develop safety protocols onstage, backstage and for the audience. It’s a process that will take more than a few weeks… Broadway producers have long said they can’t afford to reopen shows at less than full capacity” (npr.org). So although Broadway may not be able to reopen their doors as soon as this May, hopefully they will be able to in the upcoming months.
The ability to attend concerts depends largely on where you live, and the CDC regulations in that area. In Pennsylvania, restrictions were loosened in late February and early March, allowing fans to attend live concerts. The new restrictions state that indoor events can “operate at 15% of maximum occupancy and all outdoor events at 20% occupancy, regardless of venue size” (inquirer.com). However, even though some events are allowed at limited capacity, rollingstone.com states, “most large-scale concerts and tours in the U.S. cannot return until 2022…live music, with its high-density indoor audiences and complicated group logistics, cannot be profitable unless the whole system whirls up at once.” Aside from the issue of profits, many artists are hesitant to resume their tours until they know for sure that it is safe to continue, so the return date of large scale concerts is still unknown.
Although all events have not been able to resume yet, and the ones that have still need to follow restrictions, we are slowly getting closer to being able to attend the events we all love, such as Broadway, plays, musicals, concerts, and more.
