Major Music Streaming Services Contribute Millions to Fund for Out of Work Musicians

Recording Academy’s MusiCares contributed initial $2 million to COVID-19 Relief Fund last week

When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo closed Broadway theaters on March 12 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York theater scene was heating up ahead of the Tony Awards — with 31 shows playing and another eight scheduled to begin performances by mid-April. But the uncertainty of when theaters (and Broadway-bound tourists) might return has forced some producers to close shows early — or push new productions to sometime in the future.

  • Closed: “Hangmen” 

    Martin McDonagh’s new comedy, starring Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”) and Mark Addy (“Game of Thrones”), announced March 20 it would not reopen after playing 13 preview performances ahead of an expected March 19 official opening.

  • Closed: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” 

    The revival of Edward Albee’s classic drama, starring Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett, had played just nine preview performances before Broadway went dark. With the scheduled April 9 official opening off the table, producers decided to close the show on March 21.

  • Postponed: “Flying Over Sunset”

    The new musical by composer Tom Kitt (“Next to Normal,” pictured), lyricist Michael Korie (“Grey Gardens”) and book writer James Lapine (“Into the Woods”) was scheduled to begin performances on March 12 ahead of an official April 16 opening. On March 24 the Lincoln Center Theater announced the show’s opening would be pushed to the fall.

  • All Broadway (and Off Broadway) theaters have shuttered until at least April 12 — and there’s no word yet on when performances might resume and whether this year’s Tony Awards will proceed on June 7 as planned.

    • Composer Tom Kitt’s new musical “Flying Over Sunset” is the latest affected

    When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo closed Broadway theaters on March 12 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York theater scene was heating up ahead of the Tony Awards — with 31 shows playing and another eight scheduled to begin performances by mid-April. But the uncertainty of when theaters (and Broadway-bound tourists) might return has forced some producers to close shows early — or push new productions to sometime in the future.

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