"We're back": Broadway's biggest shows return to fully vaccinated audiences
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Lin-Manuel Miranda surprises the audience and welcomes them back to Broadway at the reopening of "Hamilton." Photo: Bruce Glikas/Getty Images
Some of Broadway's biggest shows returned Tuesday night, with theater icons Kristin Chenoweth, Julie Taymor and Lin-Manuel Miranda welcoming fully vaccinated and mask-wearing audiences.
Why it matters: The coronavirus pandemic forced Broadway shows to close for 18 months — the longest shutdown in Broadway history, the New York Times reports.
State of play: Some of theater's most popular musicals, "Wicked," "Chicago," "The Lion King" and "Hamilton," opened on Tuesday — the day former Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Broadway shows could reopen at 100% capacity.
- Chenoweth welcomed "Wicked's" audience, Taymor welcomed "The Lion King's" and Miranda welcomed "Hamilton's" — all to standing ovations.
- Yes, but: The shows were not the first nor the only ones to reopen. Two other big musicals, "Hadestown" and "Waitress," reopened on Aug. 22, per AP.
