Mayor de Blasio is optimistic about everything in New York City being back in full swing by July. Everything, that is, except Broadway.
In an appearance on NBC’s Morning Joe Bill de Blasio announced his expectation that NYC will be fully reopened, with stores, bars, restaurants, offices, gyms and other venues running by July 1st, with a glaring exception for theater. The mayor said he expects Broadway to return in September of 2020. “Broadway takes time because they have to mount full productions,” de Blasio said, during the interview. “I’d say you should expect Broadway full strength in September, but I’d love to see some of the smaller shows up in July and August.”
De Blasio’s announcement comes after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this week that outdoor dining venues can return to pre-pandemic hours starting May 17, with indoor dining spaces able to do so on May 31. As Governor, Cuomo ultimately has final say as to when the city reopens and when Broadway can return after being shutdown due to COVID-19 for over a year.
While Broadway might not be running at full capacity until September, theater has begun springing up in the city via the NY PopsUp series, originally produced by disgraced mega-producer Scott Rudin before stepping down. Likewise, the Public Theater’s beloved Shakespeare in the Park series is planning to return to its outdoor theater on July 1st. So although de Blasio remains optimistic about “smaller shows” returning before September, your best bet this summer is to head to The Delacorte and not Circle in the Square.
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