Enrichment Arts & Culture

‘Hamilton’ and ‘The Lion King’ reopen to packed houses after longest shutdown in Broadway history

(Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

Story at a glance

  • Broadway shows returned Tuesday night to packed crowds.
  • Broadway had been closed for 18 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • All performers, theater staff and attendees must be fully vaccinated, and everyone in the audience must still wear a mask.

Broadway is back.

Eighteen months after the curtains closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Broadway shows returned Tuesday night to packed crowds as showgoers came to experience “The Lion King,” “Hamilton,” “Chicago” and “Wicked.” 


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The reopening isn’t just a reason for theater fans to rejoice, but it’s also responsible for spurring close to 97,000 local jobs through the industry and supporting subsidiaries.

“It is the balm that we all need right now, not just on stage, but in our city,” Santiago-Hudson, a writer, performer and director, told The Guardian. “It’s a necessity, it’s in us as human beings. Theatre has always been the great gathering place — church and theatre.”

All performers, theater staff and attendees must be fully vaccinated, and everyone in the audience must still wear a mask due to the close quarters.


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