Times Square looked like its bustling old self on Friday.
After New York musicals and plays remained in the dark for a full year, Broadway performers graced the occasion by putting in a surprise surprise concert for a small-but-powerful crowd in the middle of the theater district.
Its defiant message to an industry caught by the COVID-19 epidemic was made clear by the event’s title: “We Will Be Back.”
The acting president of the Times Square Alliance, Tom Harris, told The Post, “It’s time to reflect on what we’ve lost and who we’ve lost in the past year, and how far we’ve come.” “Just think – a few months ago, we were 35,000 people through Times Square [a day]. Now, we have 100,000. “
Several Broadway stars, including Matthew Broderick and Brian Stokes Mitchell, were up for the uplifting show.
“I can’t tell you how many friends and colleagues in three dimensions are novel and amazing and great to see!” Tony Award winner Michelle stated that she performed the first performance “On Broadway”.
The half-hour program will feature three additional songs from “Pippin” – “Home”, “Pippin” to “Magic to Do”, and “We Will Be Back”, an original tune sung by Alan René Louis. D Shields, Lillias White, Derrick Beskin and Nikki M. James, and supported by enthusiastic dancers. All wore masks or face shields.
Friday was not the first time Broadway had gathered in Times Square to show strength during tough times. Tony Award winning director Jerry Mitchell reminded The iconic Broadway commercial He choreographed after the September 11 attacks, when stars such as Nathan Lane, Ellen Stritch and Bernadette Peters sang at the same venue.
“The last time I remember it [type of] The incident was of 9/11, when we did ‘New York, New York’. “And to see the community coming together – this time is a little different because we’re all wearing double masks – but it’s definitely expected.”
Broadway marked the longest closure in its history on March 12, 2020, when Gov. Andrew Andrew announced a ban on events of more than 500 people. The estimate was to last for a month. Now, the latest best-case-scenario time for full capacity performance to resume is quickly dropping.
Actor Joel Gray told The Post that temporarily coming back to busy Midtown was a fluke, “but you’ll take baby steps.” The 88-year-old actor, dressed in a “Wilkman” mask given to him by an assistant choreographer for his Off-Broadway “Fiddler on the Roof”, said he had recently been vaccinated.
Finally, a pious Chita Rivera took the stage to raise her voice in support of him, and received some laughter.
“I started my career in theater 70 years ago,” said 88-year-old Nadi. “And I know what you’re all thinking: I don’t watch more than 60 days!”
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