Topline
Shakespeare in the Park will return to New York City’s Central Park this summer, the Public Theater announced Tuesday, the first sign of theater’s return after an economically devastating year-long closure ahead of Broadway and other indoor theaters’ likely reopening in the fall.
Shakespeare In The Park's "Twelfth Night" on July 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John ... [+]
Key Facts
Shakespeare in the Park will return to the Delacorte Theater from July 5 through Aug. 29 with Merry Wives, a South Harlem-set adaptation of Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor.
The production is likely one of many outdoor performances likely to take place this summer: Other major regional theaters across the U.S. like the Muny in St. Louis are also preparing outdoor summer seasons, the New York Times reports, while in the United Kingdom the Royal Shakespeare Company will launch its own summer Shakespeare performances at a new specially constructed outdoor space.
Elsewhere in New York City, Lincoln Center will kick off a series of outdoor performances in April, and the state government has launched NY PopsUp, a series of one-off performances held throughout the city through Labor Day, including at some Broadway theaters.
The limited performances over the summer will likely portend an even bigger reopening push in the fall, which is when Broadway shows are expected to resume, though the exact logistics remain in flux.
The Washington Post reports national tours of theater productions are also likely to return in the fall, with tickets now on sale across the country for performances as early as September.
Theater’s anticipated fall return would likely be in line with public health recommendations, with Dr. Anthony Fauci saying in January he expected people could return to the theater indoors in “early to mid fall, late fall of 2021.”
Big Number
$22.44 billion. That’s the anticipated economic impact Broadway’s closure will have based on shows remaining closed through Sept. 5, according to a report from industry analytics firm Tanna, in addition to a $5.75 billion impact from national touring shows being canceled. The arts’ closure has an economic impact far beyond lost ticket revenue, with Tanna reporting every visit to an arts-related event generates an extra $31.47 for the economy per person—making it an industry that contributes $878 billion to the economy overall.
Key Background
Shakespeare in the Park’s reopening comes as Broadway and other theaters in New York City have remained shuttered since last March, marking the longest shutdown in Broadway history. New York’s theaters took their first step toward reopening in early March, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced entertainment venues in the state could reopen in April with capacity restrictions in place. Tanna reports more than 14,000 direct jobs and 83,000 indirect jobs—like workers at nearby restaurants or other businesses that service theatergoers—have been impacted by Broadway’s closure, which will result in more than $2.8 billion in lost revenue. The arts industry has received some help from the federal government’s stimulus legislation, including the $15 billion Save Our Stages Act in the stimulus package passed in December and $470 million for cultural organizations in the American Rescue Plan signed into law last week.
Further Reading
Pop-Up Broadway: Some Theaters To Reopen For First Time In Over A Year (Forbes)
Broadway Shutdown Extended Through May 2021 (Forbes)
Broadway shows plan to get back on the road this fall (Washington Post)
The Arts Are Coming Back This Summer. Just Step Outside. (New York Times)
Some Broadway Producers Expect Reopening of Theaters in Fall (Wall Street Journal)
