Update, Tuesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m.: According to Playbill, more Broadway shows have canceled performances in response to rising COVID cases in New York due to the Omicron variant. The Broadway production of Six has continued its cancelation by postponing shows until December 29. Waitress canceled several performances this week but intends to reopen the diner on December 23. The Lion King canceled its holiday shows and is expected to resume on December 27. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has canceled more shows and plans to return on December 28. All shows are refunding canceled performances at their point of purchase.
Hollywood Reporter spoke to the Broadway League President, Charlotte St. Martin, who confirmed that Broadway has “absolutely no plans to shut down†widely and will continue to handle each show cancelation on a case by case basis.
Update, Monday, December 20 at 10:00 p.m.: Jagged Little Pill has become the first Broadway show to permanently close amid the December surge of COVID-19 in New York. “[T]he drastic turn of events this week with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has, once again, changed everything,†the show’s producers wrote in a statement. “We are dismayed by what appears to be another substantial public health crisis, and – due to the detection of multiple positive Covid-19 cases within the company – need to prioritize the health and safety of the cast, crew, and entire team working on Jagged Little Pill.â€
Update, Monday, December 20 at 8:35 p.m.: And the COVID-19 cancellations continue. The Broadway productions of Hamilton and Aladdin each announced on Monday that they would not hold performances through Christmas due to breakthrough cases of COVID-19. In Twitter statements, both musicals said that they would refund tickets for all canceled dates. Aladdin noted that it plans to resume performances on December 26, while Hamilton simply stated that it “will have more information on upcoming performances as soon as possible.†According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two productions are the second and third major musicals to opt out of the typically busy holiday week. The Michael Jackson musical, MJ, became the first when it announced last week that it would not resume previews until December 27. Though nine Broadway productions called off performances last week, MJ was the first to extend cancellations to Christmas shows.
Original story follows.
The rest of the Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas shows this year have been canceled due to COVID-19. Per the New York Times, the decision was made after four Friday performances of the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes had already been scrapped because of breakthrough coronavirus cases in the company. “We regret that we are unable to continue the Christmas Spectacular this season,†the annual show said in a statement. “We had hoped we could make it through the season and are honored to have hosted hundreds of thousands of fans at more than 100 shows over the last seven weeks.†The iconic New York City dancers had been scheduled to perform several times a day through January 2, 2022. But according to the Times, company members have had concerns about COVID protocols for several weeks. While vaccination was mandated for employees of the annual Christmas show, testing was not. Masks were recommended — but not required — for artists, cast, crew, and all audience members at Radio City Music Hall.
The cancellation comes as the state of New York set a pandemic record of 21,027 new cases on Friday, December 17. Unsurprisingly, the Rockettes aren’t the only live performers who will be missing out on holiday performances. On Broadway, where masking is mandated, several productions have dealt with outbreaks of the virus. The Michael Jackson musical announced Friday that it would remain closed until December 27 due to “multiple positive COVID-test results.†Per The Hollywood Reporter, it joined Ain’t Too Proud, Freestyle Love Supreme, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Tina as the ninth Broadway show to announce cancellations due to breakthrough cases this week.