"The Music Man" adds to the list of canceled Broadway shows because of the onslaught of COVID-19 on productions all over New York.
Hugh Jackman, lead star of musical revival of "The Music Man" as Harold Hill, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus yesterday, Dec. 29, 2022.
Jackman, who had just staged a comeback at Broadway, shared a 35-second video message to his followers on Instagram. He says that he will "be back on stage" at the Winter Garden Theatre as soon as he gets cleared.
The Tony Award-wining star confirmed that he has mild, cold-like symptoms and a scratchy throat, all common symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.
The Music Man is set to return on Jan. 2, 2022, after all performances for the rest of 2021 were canceled last Dec. 28, 2021.
READ ALSO: Comeback is Real! Hugh Jackman Returns To Broadway for the Music Man Revival
Cancellations and Resumptions on Broadway
A surge in the number of breakthrough COVID cases in New York City due to the Omicron variant has prompted the cancellation of multiple Broadway musicals during the holiday weeks, which have traditionally been a popular period for productions across the board.
Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton remains canceled as a precaution, saying they will share information on upcoming performances as soon as possible.
Based on the origins of the late Pop Legend Michael Jackson's 1992 Dangerous world tour, MJ was the first Broadway musical to ax its holiday shows because of the virus surge in the Big Apple. The show is now slated to open on Feb. 1, 2022.
Skeleton Crew also skipped the holiday surge and delayed its official opening to Jan. 19, 2022.
Some productions, however, are continuing to resume their shows but with stringent health protocols.
Alladin will finally resume their performances today, after an extended closure was made from Dec. 21, 2021.
Dear Evan Hansen also continued their holiday performance two days ago, along with Lion King and Hadestown.
The holiday performance schedule is expected to include additional matinee performances, providing an opportunity for a significant increase in ticket sales following the industry's reopening from its more than year-long pandemic shutdown, report says.
Audience members attending any Broadway musical must provide proof of vaccination and wear a mask.
Several representatives of the industry also said that Broadway could only endure one major reopening and that they want to prevent any huge COVID-related shutdowns as much as possible in the run-up to Omicron's arrival.
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