'Hamilton,' 'Wicked' Reopen As Broadway's Rebirth Continues

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The long-awaited reopening of Broadway theaters kicks into a higher gear Tuesday, as three of the city's most popular shows resume performances for the first time since March 2020.

"Hamilton," "The Lion King," "Wicked" and "Chicago" will all welcome back crowds to their respective theaters Tuesday evening, marking a symbolic step in the recovery of an industry that was brought to its knees by the coronavirus pandemic.

"When Broadway is up and running, it says so much about New York City," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Tuesday. "And tonight, a lot of Broadway is coming back."

Those shows, which are among Broadway's most popular, set their reopening dates months ago when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sept. 14 would be the day that performances could resume at full capacity.

Other shows have already begun hosting some performances. Bruce Springsteen's one-man show was the first, in late June, followed by other hits like "Hadestown" and "Waitress," which became the first musicals to reopen earlier this month.

Those performances were attended by rapturous crowds, like the attendees at "Hadestown," who flooded West 48th Street after the first show for an outdoor balcony performance by the cast.

"Hamilton," "The Lion King" and "Wicked" will all open at full capacity Tuesday at the Richard Rodgers, Minskoff and Gershwin theatres, respectively. Guests must show proof that they are fully vaccinated and must wear masks during the show.

Also on Tuesday, the iconic TKTS Booth reopened in Times Square, where same-day tickets are sold at steeply reduced prices.

Joining de Blasio on Tuesday was Sara Bareilles, the songwriter and composer of "Waitress," who said the atmosphere was "electric" when her own show reopened this month.

"I thought it would be really strange to see people wearing in masks," she said. "I actually really receive it as this act of generosity ... it's been a beautiful, generous exchange of the audience and the artists."

The 18-month shutdown has dealt a severe blow to the $15 billion industry, which employed nearly 97,000 workers in pre-pandemic times. In 2019, Broadway had its most successful season in history, raking in $1.8 billion in ticket sales.

Previous coverage:

• Times Square's Iconic 'TKTS' Ticket Booth Reopening
• Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Ticket Sales This Week, Cuomo Says
• Cuomo Reopens Venues, But Broadway To Stay Shuttered
• Broadway To Remain Dark Through May 2021