Stopped cold: ‘Frozen’ musical on Broadway not to reopen

big budget musical “Frozen” will t reopen when Broway aters restart, marking first time an established show has been felled by coronavirus pandemic.

Disney show opened in March 2018 and placed among top five Broway productions for both gross and attendance over both years it ran, often pulling in over $1 million, and even $2 million a week.

Until w, only shows that were waiting to officially open have anunced postponements or cancellations. Disney still has “ Lion King” and “Aldin” on Broway and five productions of “Frozen” worldwide.

Actors’ Equity Association, which represents 51,000 actors and st manrs, reacted with dismay to news and urged New York and national politicians to rescue arts sector.

“Today’s news should be an all hands-on-deck moment for Gov. (Mario) Cuomo, Mayor (Bill) De Blasio and Congress,” said Mary McColl, executive director. “ arts and entertainment sector drives ecomy of New York, just like it does in cities and towns across country. Decisions me in days and weeks ahe will shape future of arts sector for years to come. Public officials at all levels must think much more boldly about supporting arts or our entire ecomy will be slower to recover.”

Disney atrical gets corporate subsidy from Walt Disney Company and its st shows must be financially self-sustaining.

Although an exact date for performances to resume on Broway has yet to be determined, Broway producers are w offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Sept. 6.

Broway performances were suspended on March 12 after Cuomo imposed a ban on garings of 500 or more people. re were 31 productions running, including eight new shows in previews and ar eight shows in rehearsals preparing for spring season.

Some shows like an upcoming revival of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” starring Matw Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as a musical about Michael Jackson, have pushed ir production to next year.

Or shows scheduled to open this spring have abandoned ir plans, including “Hangmen” and a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

Im credit: AP