Broadway’s reprise of The Music Man , New York’s most popular show, was shut down for five days on Tuesday after lead actor Hugh Jackman tested positive for corona.
Jackman said on Twitter that he has only mild symptoms, including a sore throat and runny nose, and will return to the stage once he is healed. The producers have announced that all performances of the musical have been canceled until January 1.
Despite his vaccinations and booster shot, Jackman tested positive after his co-star Sutton Foster was infected with the corona virus last week. Foster, who was replaced by a substitute, will return to the stage on January 2, but Jackson is expected to be absent until January 6.
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Dozens of Broadway shows, including Hamilton, The Lion King and Aladdin , have been canceled in the past two weeks as the virus rages through the city despite mandatory vaccinations for cast, crew and audience.
Some shows, such as the Rockettes’ annual Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall, have been canceled entirely, while musicals Jagged Little Pill and Ain’t Too Proud have been canceled weeks ahead of schedule due to breakthrough cases and slow ticket sales during the usually busy Christmas season. .
The new wave of coronavirus couldn’t have come at a worse time for Broadway, which reopened in September after an 18-month “corona shutdown.” In January and February usually not many audiences come to the theaters and big musicals need full houses to make money.
The performance Music Man is currently in preview and will have its official premiere on February 10. Demand for tickets is high, despite the official maximum price of $699 per seat, and resale websites sell tickets for more than $2,000 each.
