‘Frozen’ musical becomes biggest victim of Broadway coronavirus shutdown

The Disney manufacturing, which opened in March 2018 and relies on the blockbuster 2013 film, won’t return, Disney stated in an announcement.

Broadway theatres went darkish on March 12 and this week prolonged the closure to Sept 6. Live performances, particularly huge musicals with their massive casts and the challenges of social distancing on stage, are anticipated to be among the many final occasions to return whereas the coronavirus pandemic continues.

“Frozen,” about two sisters who’re pulled aside by a mysterious secret, options the Oscar-winning track “Let It Go.” Along with “Aladdin” and “The Lion King,” the play was one in all three Disney musicals based mostly on well-liked motion pictures working on Broadway.

It was the primary musical and the most important Broadway manufacturing to fall sufferer to the coronavirus, which has hit New York City hardest in United States.

Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, stated in an announcement it was onerous to imagine a couple of years in the past “{that a} international pandemic would so alter the world economic system that working three Disney exhibits on Broadway would grow to be untenable.”

“Frozen” was taking a mean of about $1 million per week in ticket gross sales, in accordance with box-office information.

The actors union Equity stated the closure was a wake-up name displaying the challenges confronted by reside theatre through the pandemic.

“Today’s information ought to be an all palms on deck second for Governor Cuomo, Mayor De Blasio and Congress,” govt director Mary McColl stated in an announcement.

“Public officers in any respect ranges should assume way more boldly about supporting the humanities or our total economic system might be slower to recuperate,” she added.

Two performs – a brand new manufacturing of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and new British comedy “Hangmen” – had opened in preview earlier than the shutdown. Producers later stated they won’t return as soon as Broadway reopens.