UPDATE, with new Macbeth, Strange Loop & Matthew Broderick return dates Matthew Broderick has tested positive for Covid and will miss performances of Broadway’s Plaza Suite until April 15, producers announced. His wife and co-star Sarah Jessica Parker has tested negative and will perform with an understudy.
In a statement released just an hour before showtime Tuesday, producers said Broderick had maintained strict adherence to Covid safety protocols but that a second test confirmed the diagnosis.
“Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery,” the statement said.
Previous, Tuesday: A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer-winning musical, has canceled this week’s Broadway previews due to cases of Covid detected within the company. Previews are expected to begin Monday, April 11, at the Lyceum Theatre.
The show became the second Broadway production in as many weeks to cancel performances due to Covid. Last week, producers of Macbeth starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga put the production on pause due to what they said was a limited number of Covid cases detected; star Daniel Craig was widely reported to have been one of the cases.
Performances of Macbeth, at the Longacre Theatre, currently are canceled through Saturday, April 9, with performances expected to resume Monday April 11 at 8 pm. Macbeth is scheduled to officially open April 28. (Macbeth initially was paused through April 7.)
PERFORMANCE UPDATE:
Performances are being cancelled through Saturday, April 9th.⁰⁰We deeply apologize for the inconvenience this causes ticket holders. All tickets for the cancelled performances will be refunded at the original point of purchase. pic.twitter.com/UocK4Qy4IA— Macbeth on Broadway (@macbethbway) April 5, 2022
Opening night for A Strange Loop is scheduled for April 26. Directed by Stephen Brackett, with choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, it stars Jaquel Spivey, in his Broadway debut, as Usher, described by the production as “a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer…” The play won Jackson the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Drama.
Also in the cast are Antwayn Hopper, L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, James Jackson, Jr., John-Andrew Morrison and Jason Veasey. Understudies include Edwin Bates, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Jon-Michael Reese and Mars Rucker.
The cancelations come as New York City experiences an uptick in Covid cases due to a spike in the omicron variant BA.2. While New York City’s daily case average is up, hospitalizations and deaths remain on a steady decline.
Broadway recently reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining Covid protocols of vaccine and mask mandates at least through April 30.
Also today, New York’s Public Theater said that a number of positive Covid cases within the company of the new musical SUFFS have been detected, including for composer and star Shaina Taub. Although Wednesday’s scheduled press opening is expected to go on as planned, Taub will be out of the show for 10 days, returning April 16. Holly Gould will play the role of suffragist Alice Paul in Taub’s absence.
Although the Public will proceed with the opening-night performance, a post-show reception is being postponed.
The production of SUFFS, with book, music and lyrics by Taub and directed by Leigh Silverman, is a much anticipated world premiere of a musical about the American women’s suffrage movement. The large cast also includes Hamilton‘s Phillipa Soo.
The first preview performance of #StrangeLoopBway is being cancelled due to the detection of a limited number of positive covid test results within the company and to give the production more time to rehearse the understudies. pic.twitter.com/9obcrg2uEY
— A Strange Loop on Broadway (@StrangeLoopBway) April 5, 2022
We are so excited for SUFFS’ official opening tomorrow night. Unfortunately, there have been a number of positive COVID cases within the SUFFS company, including Shaina Taub.
— The Public Theater (@PublicTheaterNY) April 5, 2022
Our Opening performance will go on as planned, but we’re postponing the post-show reception and photos as part of tomorrow’s event. We’re wishing everyone a speedy recovery and looking forward to sharing more SUFFS with you soon.
— The Public Theater (@PublicTheaterNY) April 5, 2022
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