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 Emotions were giddy as the
curtain rose again on top musicals "Hamilton,"
"The Lion King" and "Wicked" before packed
audiences welcoming back live theater after the
coronavirus shutdown.
"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda received a
standing ovation when he appeared on stage
before the start of his Tony Award-winning
hip-hop show about America's founding fathers.
"I don't ever want to take live theater for
granted ever again, do you? It's so sacred,"
said Miranda, tearing up with emotion. "I'm so
grateful to you and I hope you go see as many
shows as you can and keep supporting our
industry."
A few blocks away, Kristin Chenoweth made a
surprise appearance before the start of
"Wicked," in which she originated the role of
Glinda about 20 years ago. Composer Steven
Schwartz joined a prolonged curtain call.
"There’s no place like home," said Chenoweth, to
wild cheers and audible weeping. "I wanted to be
here to welcome New York and all of the
theatergoers back to what is my favorite show."
Julie Taymor, director of "The Lion King,"
opened the show by telling the audience, "As
Rafiki says, it is time." The long-running
musical "Chicago" also re-opened to long
applause after every song.
"I didn’t think I would be so emotional, but you
really felt everything in such a different way
coming back in. Being back on Broadway was
amazing," said Richard Saenz, who was in the
audience for "The Lion King."
Broadway was one of the first institutions to
close when the pandemic hit in mid-March 2020
and is the last to re-open in the United States.
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 It has taken months to upgrade
air filter systems and ensure social distancing
on stages full of blood, sweat and tears.
Audiences, actors, musicians and backstage crew
must show proof of full vaccinations and wear
masks.
"Hamilton," "The Lion King" and "Wicked" were
the biggest box office earners, each taking in
more than $1 million a week, before the pandemic
shut about 40 theaters, throwing thousands of
actors, stagehands, musicians and dancers out of
work. "Every single nerve is
tingling with joy and world peace. How lucky we
are to be back at work," "Hamilton" producer
Jeffrey Seller said on Tuesday.
"It has been 700,000, 100 and 25 minutes since
we've last been able to perform for a live
audience."
Musicals "Hadestown" and "Waitress" returned 10
days ago, and the first new play, "Pass Over,"
opened its doors in August. The discount TKTS
ticket booth in Times Square also re-opened on
Tuesday.
Another dozen musicals and plays will re-open
during September, bringing back one of the
city's biggest cultural attractions.
City authorities hope their return will spur
tourism and revitalize once-crowded restaurants,
bars and hotels near Times Square.
(Reporting by Alicia Powell and Jill Serjeant;
Editing by Leslie Adler and Clarence Fernandez)
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