Broadway to remain closed until early June due to COVID-19

Broadway shut down in March due to the coronavirus crisis, and it looks as though it will remain closed a while longer.

The curtains have closed on Broadway for the time being, and it looks like they’re going to remain closed a little longer. The Broadway League has announced that the current shutdown, which began mid-March, will be extended until June 7. This, of course, is due to the concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, as well as the current restrictions in place in New York regarding large gatherings.

And according to The New York Times, many leaders in the theater industry actually expect the closures to go on beyond the current June 7 date. Given that there’s no clear timeline for how long the health crisis will last — or how serious it could become — it’s understandable to think of June 7 as a tentative change. After all, the situation has progressed quickly and will likely continue to do so.

“We’re hopeful that the restrictions will be lifted by June 7,” Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, said. “If they’re not, we will continue to monitor government restrictions and will advise ticket holders as soon as we know what those restrictions are.”

The theater closures have already had a negative impact the Broadway shows scheduled to debut this spring, but it does seem as though ticketholders will be accommodated in some way. Unfortunately, those working in Broadway will remain out of work longer because of the health crisis. And theater isn’t the only industry facing these problems.

With movie theaters and Broadway houses remaining closed, it could be some time before the entertainment industry sees an uptick — and it’ll also be a while before any of us can enjoy gathering together to enjoy a show.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.