Two of New York City theatre’s marquee productions have been canceled because of outbreaks of COVID-19 among cast members.
Newsweek reported Tuesday that The Nutcracker, the world-famous ballet originally composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and brought to American audiences by choreographer George Balanchine, was canceled for the remainder of its season because of an increase in COVID-19 cases.
“While New York City Ballet had hoped to resume performances this evening, we have made the decision that continuing to perform at this time would not be in the best interest of the NYCB community, whose health and safety is our number one priority,” New York City Ballet Executive Director Kathy Brown and Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford said in a statement announcing the cancellations. “We are extraordinarily proud of everyone who safely came together to present 30 beautiful performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in recent weeks, and we are also very grateful to the thousands of people who attended.”
The ballet, which has been a staple of New York’s Christmas entertainment scene for almost 70 years, was also canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first year since 1954 that the ballet was not performed.
At the same time, the Broadway production of The Music Man was also canceled until the New Year because star actor Hugh Jackman was infected with COVID-19.
“Just wanted you to hear it from me, that I tested positive this morning for COVID,” Jackman said in a video posted to Twitter. “My symptoms are like a cold; I have a scratchy throat and a bit of a runny nose, but I’m fine. I’m just going to do everything I can to get better ASAP. And as soon as I’m cleared, I’ll be back on stage heading to River City,” he said, referring to the fictional town where the musical is set.
Just wanted you to hear it from me. I tested positive for covid. Mild symptoms and as soon as I’m cleared … looking forward to getting back to The Winter Garden! @MusicManBway pic.twitter.com/q1oEAzXX02
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) December 28, 2021
Sutton Foster, Jackman’s co-star in the production, also tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to quarantine, Newsweek reported, but performances were scheduled to continue without her until Jackman was infected Tuesday.
The two shows are the latest in a slew of New York City productions that were forced to cancel shows because of outbreaks in the cast and crew. The Daily Wire previously reported:
Wednesday’s performance of Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre was canceled suddenly after the audience was seated and waiting for the music to start, Deadline reported.
A spokesperson confirmed to the New York Post that the cancellation was due to “a late-in-the-day positive test result in the company.”
On Friday morning, producers also canceled the performance scheduled for that evening. Currently, the show is scheduled to take the stage again on Saturday, December 18, at 2 p.m.
A slew of other shows, Hamilton, Jagged Little Pill, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Tina, Freestyle Love Supreme, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Ain’t Too Proud have all also canceled performances since December 13 over breakthrough coronavirus cases.
MJ the musical, which is about Michael Jackson, announced Friday that it is canceling all preview performances through Christmas.
The Radio City Rockettes were also forced to cancel their “Christmas Spectacular” performances because of an outbreak amongst the cast.