Barry Manilow had to miss out on attending the opening night of his new, off-Broadway musical Harmony on Wednesday night after testing positive for COVID-19.
The singer released a “heartbroken” statement on Twitter ahead of the performance that read, “This just might be the cruelest thing that has ever happened to me: 25 years waiting for this show to premiere in New York and I can’t attend.” But although Manilow was unable to see the debut performance of his musical, the show went on as planned at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City. He urged fans to go enjoy the show on his behalf, concluding, “Even in the face of this pandemic, we New Yorkers remain the toughest, staunchest people on the planet—so, put on a mask and go see a show!” The musical, which he wrote with his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman, follows a sextet of German singers and the dilemmas its Jewish members face as the Nazi party rises to power in the 1930s.
Last Saturday, Manilow also had to cancel his concert at Westgate’s International Theater in Las Vegas at the last minute after coming down with a cold. Hotel officials said the show’s abrupt cancellation was due to “unforeseen circumstances,” informing the audience about 15 minutes before showtime that the event was being canceled. On Sunday, Manilow’s husband and manager, Garry Kief, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the singer was “feeling better,” chalking up his ill health to, “Probably just a cold, sore throat, congested.”
More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
— How Princess Diana’s Press Strategy Impacted William and Harry
— The Johnny Depp–Amber Heard Trial: How Did It Come to This?
— The Rich Are Rotting in the Mildewed Age
— Prince Andrew Really Just Cannot Seem to Stop Himself
— 11 New Books to Read This April
— Will Smith Banned From the Oscars for 10 Years After the Slap
— Susan Cain, Chief Introvert, Ventures Into the Sublime
— From the Archive: How Did Johnny Depp Find Himself in a Financial Hole?
— Sign up for “The Buyline” to receive a curated list of fashion, books, and beauty buys in one weekly newsletter.