The Wait Is Over...The Pandemic Continues...Vaccines Are Mandated...It's Showtime, Broadway Plays and Musicals Are Back, Part 2

 

By James V. Ruocco

Broadway 2022.

The pandemic - COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant - rages on.
Performances are cancelled.
Performances are rescheduled.
Performances resume.
Performers test positive for COVID.
Understudies take their place.

But Broadway is back.
And live theatre is here to stay...for the moment anyway.

Behind the scenes, auditions continue for new shows.
Actors, musicians, directors, technicians and backstage crews are being assembled.
Rehearsals continue or are about to begin.

Vaccine protocols are in place and updated regularly.

So, what are the rules?

When attending the Broadway play or musical of your choice, you must be vaccinated (anyone 12 and up). Upon entering the venue, you must wear a mask and bring proof (vaccine card and government-issued photo ID) showing your current vaccinations and booster shots and status.

If you can't get vaccinated or haven't been vaccinated, you must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance. Or show proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance.
These rules, established and enforced by the Broadway League, apply for all Broadway shows through February 28, 2022

And yes, they must be followed.

Back to business, it's time to raise the curtain on what's waiting in the wings.

Who's who?
What's playing?
What's opening?
When do performances begin?

Here's what's happening so far, show by show, in no particular order.

"Funny Girl"

(August Wilson Theatre)

Previews: March 26, 2022

Opening Night: April 24, 2022

Cast: Beanie Feldstein, Ramin Karimloo, Jane Lynch, Jared Grimes

"Plaza Suite"

(Hudson Theatre)

Previews: February 25, 2022

Opening Night: March 28, 2022

Cast: Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny Bolero, Molly Ranson

"The Music Man"

(Winter Garden Theatre)

Previews Resume: January 5, 2022

Opening Night: February 10, 2022

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster, Shuler Hensley, Jefferson Mays, Jayne Houdyshell

"Birthday Candles"
(American Airlines Theatre)
Previews: March 18, 2022
Opening Night: April 10, 2022
Cast: Debra Messing, Susannah Flood, Crystal Finn, Christopher Livingston

"Mr. Saturday Night"
(Nederlander Theatre)
Previews: March 1, 2022
Opening Night: March 31, 2022
Cast: Billy Crystal, Randy Graff, David Paymer, Chasten Harmon

"American Buffalo"

(Circle in the Square Theatre)

Previews: March 22, 2022

Opening Night: April 14, 2022

Cast: Lawrence J. Fishburne III, Sam Rockwell, Darren Criss

"Macbeth"

(Longacre Theatre)

Previews: March 29, 2022

Opening Night: April 28, 2022

Cast: Daniel Craig, Ruth Negga

"Take Me Out"

(Helen Hayes Theatre)

Previews: March 9, 2022

Opening Night: April 4, 2022

Cast: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patrick J. Adams, Jesse Williams, Hiram Delgado, Ken Marks, Julian Cihi

"How I Learned to Drive"
(Samuel J. Friedman Theatre)
Previews: March 29, 2022
Opening Night: April 22. 2022
Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, David Morse, Johanna Day, Alyssa May

"The Minutes"
Theatre: Studio 54
Previews: March 19, 2022
Opening Night: April 7, 2022
Cast: Tracy Letts, Ian Barford, Blair Brown, Austin Pendleton, K. Todd Freeman, Cliff Chamberlain

"The Little Prince"

(Broadway Theatre)

Previews: March 14, 2022

Opening Night: March 17, 2022

Cast: Lionel Zalachas, Aurelien Bednarek, Chris Mouron, Laurisse Sulty

"Paradise Square"

(Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

Previews: February 22, 2022

Opening Night: March 20, 2022

Cast: Joaquina Kalukango, Chilina Kennedy, John Dossett, Sidney DuPont

"for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enough"

(Booth Theatre)

Previews: March 4, 2022

Opening Night: March 24, 2022

Cast: T.B.A.

"Beetlejuice"
(Marriott Marquis Theatre)
Performances Resume: April 8, 2022
Opening Night: T.B.A.

"The Skin of Our Teeth"
(Vivian Beaumont Theatre)
Previews: March 31, 2022
Opening Night: April 25, 2022
Cast: T.B.A.

Updates will also be provided on a day-to-day basis once the T.B.A. mandate changes in terms of casting, venues and preview and opening night performances.