Broadway is back! First show reopens on Broadway with 'Springsteen'

Broadway theatres are reopening for the first time since the pandemic.

On Mar. 12, 2020, Broadway theatres were forced to close due to growing fears over Covid-19. Nobody could have expected theatres to be shut for so long. Broadway theatres have never been closed for a prolonged period like this in its history. But after 471 days, the wait is over. Broadway is back.

Broadway will reopen with the return of Springsteen on Broadway, with performances at St. James Theatre from June 26. The Tony-winning show ran for over a year at the Walter Kerr Theatre, featuring Springsteen's greatests hits including "Born To Run." And with dozens of Broadway shows scheduled to reopen in the coming weeks, New York theatre is coming back stronger than ever.

Here's all the Broadway shows you can book tickets for in New York, as well as vaccination requirements for attending Broadway theatres.

Book tickets for Broadway shows

The Lion King

The Broadway "Circle of Life" was broken when theatres were forced to close. Now, the circle is rejoined once more as The Lion King roars once more at the Minskoff Theatre. The Lion King reopens from September 14. Book The Lion King tickets.

Wicked

"It's good to see me, isn't it?" says Glinda as she makes her first entrance in Wicked. That's going to carry an extra meaning as Wicked reopens on Broadway. Wicked reopens at the Gershwin Theatre from September 14. Book Wicked tickets.

Aladdin

Get ready for "A Whole New World" on Broadway, as Aladdin flies on his magic carpet to the New Amsterdam Theatre. Aladdin reopens from September 28. Book Aladdin tickets.

Mrs Doubtfire

"Help is on the way, dears!" The Scottish nanny is back. After its initial previews were suspended in 2020, Rob McClure reprises the role of the title character in Mrs Doubtfire, back at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre from October 21. Book Mrs Doubtfire tickets.

Company

"Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Company," back at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Company was suspended after nine previews in 2020. Now it's back from December 20, starring Patti LuPone and Katrina Lenk. Book Company tickets.

The Book of Mormon

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Book of Mormon on Broadway, as the satirical musical reopens this fall. The Book of Mormon reopens at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre from November 5. Book The Book of Mormon tickets.

What Broadway shows are coming soon?

Springsteen on Broadway makes history as the first Broadway show to reopen since the pandemic closed theatres in March 2020. At first, theatres were not expected to open at full capacity until September 14, but a few shows have posted opening dates ahead of September 14.

In August, Pass Over by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu will receive its Broadway premiere at the August Wilson Theatre. Pass Over will run for a limited engagement from August 4 - October 10.

September is set to be a bumper month for Broadway, as 12 shows reopen. At the start of the month, audiences can look forward to Hadestown on September 2. On September 14, five shows will reopen: Chicago, Hamilton, Lackawanna Blues, The Lion King and Wicked.

Other shows opening on Broadway in September include David Byrne's American Utopia on September 17, Six on September 19, Come From Away on September 21, Chicken & Biscuits on September 23, Moulin Rouge! The Musical September 24 and The Lehman Trilogy on September 25. Find out when all Broadway shows are reopening in 2021 here. 

Off-Broadway shows are also opening in New York too. Book tickets for Off-Broadway shows including Seven Deadly Sins, Winnie The Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation and Speakeasy. Check out when Off-Broadway shows are opening here. 

Will vaccines be made mandatory to see a Broadway show?

For Springsteen on Broadway, all audience members will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA/WHO approved vaccine, and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry with a valid ticket. Guests under 16 and those who need reasonable accommodations to not have a Covid vaccine must provide proof of a negative COVID test, in addition to wearing a mask at all times.

Further details on vaccinations and mask-wearing at the theatre for all Broadway shows are to be confirmed. In press conferences, Governor Cuomo has stated his preference for theatres to make vaccinations mandatory for all audience members, meaning you'd need to be fully vaccinated ahead of seeing a Broadway show.

I can't make it to the theatre, can I still watch Broadway shows online?

Even though Broadway is reopening, there's still plenty of streaming alternatives to satisfy your theatrical fix. Check out our top theatre picks on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+.

^{Photo credit: Bruce Springsteen (Photo by Rob DeMartin)}