Courtesy of BuzzFeed News
On the evening of Thursday, March 12, all 31 current Broadway shows were canceled until further notice. This was a combined order from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Charlotte St. Martin, the president of the Broadway League. In the announcement, Gov. Cuomo said that “gatherings with 500 people or more will not be permitted in NY state.” All shows currently performing on the Broadway stage were canceled until April 12. In its over 200-year history, this is the fourth – and longest – amount of time Broadway has been shut down. During the month-long hiatus, shows like “Six,” “Diana,” “Company,” “Hangmen,” “The Minutes” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” were supposed to open, while some closing shows had their final performances earlier than expected.
Since the announcement, numerous actors currently on Broadway took to social media to share different ways fans can give back. First, they suggested that patrons consider the money they spent on tickets as a donation to the theaters instead of requesting a refund. While this option may not be monetarily feasible for all, it will most definitely help those impacted by Broadway’s closure. Second, social media pages for theaters promoted the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund launched by nonprofit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Additionally, donations can be made to The Actors Fund, which offers numerous online resources and programs for members of the entertainment and performing arts industries. Their new series, “Stars in The House,” will feature performances from past and present Broadway entertainers live from their respective homes.
Like The Actors Fund, many musical theater professionals are sharing their performances on social media or via livestream technologies. Theater news website BroadwayWorld began their “Living Room Concerts” series, where fans can watch their favorite performers from the comfort of their living rooms during this time of social distancing. At the conclusion of these “concerts,” viewers are encouraged to donate to The Actors Fund and BCEFA. Playbill has begun what they call #PlaybillTunes on Twitter where special guests share their cast album recommendations to the world. On Sunday, March 22, Broadway.com broadcast the return of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” to support The Actors Fund. This live broadcast featured the talents of some of the biggest names in showbusiness. If all of this is not enough, Broadway fans can also watch anything from BroadwayHD’s library of nearly 300 productions free of charge for seven days.
While the stages of Broadway may be dark and the theaters closed, there is no need to despair. Thanks to the incredible technologies of the 21st century, theater fans are able to connect with the performers and shows they love on their phones, computers and televisions with the aid of applications and services like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and BroadwayHD. With all of these platforms, we can stay connected to Broadway regardless of our physical distance from the stage.
