NEW YORK — Broadway is back in business.
After three days of canceled performances due to Hurricane Sandy and the citywide transport shutdown, the majority of productions on New York’s Great White Way will resume performances on Wednesday, an important two-show revenue day in the theater business.
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The Broadway League released a statement Tuesday night outlining shows scheduled to resume at matinee and/or evening performances, including Annie, The Book of Mormon, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse and this year’s Tony-winning best musical, Once.
Disney Theatrical Productions is waiting one more day before getting back on schedule, canceling Wednesday night performances of The Lion King and Mary Poppins. Three other shows, Evita, Jersey Boys and Scandalous, have dropped their matinee performances but will play in the evening. Some productions such as Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and Newsies do not have scheduled Wednesday performances and are on track to resume on Thursday.
“As always, the safety and security of theatregoers and employees is everyone’s primary concern,” said Broadway League executive director Charlotte St. Martin. “For those who can’t get in to the city as a result of the suspension of public transportation by government authorities or additional safety precautions that were implemented, they should contact their point of purchase for questions about exchange or refund policies.”
The return to work will come as a relief to the theater industry, which has lost revenue from canceled Sunday, Monday and Tuesday shows. Hurricane Sandy’s interruption to Broadway has lasted a day longer than the two-day suspensions caused in 2011 by Hurricane Irene and in 2001 by the 9/11 attacks.
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The current situation with Off Broadway productions remains unclear. Most remained closed on Tuesday evening. A handful of shows have announced cancellation of Wednesday matinee performances, though many appear likely to resume their normal schedule that night.
At least one high-profile Off Broadway production remains in limbo, however. Douglas McGrath‘s new play Checkers, starring Anthony LaPaglia and Kathryn Erbe as Richard and Pat Nixon, was scheduled to open Wednesday night at the Vineyard Theatre near Union Square.
That area is one of many in Manhattan hit by power outages, meaning the opening has been postponed, with a new date still to be set. Other downtown theaters in blackout zones also are likely to remain dark until later in the week.
