Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cinderella.” (Film still: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella/YouTube)
Just as theaters are gearing to open up on Broadway and beyond, rising COVID cases are grinding some to a halt. In many cases, the Delta variant and unvaccinated people are the cause of transmissions.
On the West End, the opening night of Emerald Fennell, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and David Zippel’s Cinderella has been postponed. Previews for this new production began on June 25, but the July 20 opening night has been delayed to August 25 at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. The production is now in another period of closure due to COVID isolation protocols.
Other canceled performances across the pond, according to LondonTheatre.co.uk, include Lava (to resume August 2) and The Browning Version starring Kenneth Branagh.
Last week in New York, a member of The Public Theater’s Merry Wives of Windsor tested positive for COVID; coupled with the free Shakespeare in the Park production’s leading man sustaining an injury, the show has not canceled three performances in accordance with its health and safety protocols, according to The New York Times. Opening night has been pushed from July 27 to August 9.
And in Japan, the Theatre Orb concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar resumed performances on Saturday, July 25 following a postponement that began on July 22 due to a positive COVID case. The starry production stars Michael K. Lee as Jesus Christ, Ramin Karimloo as Judas Iscariot, Celinde Schoenmaker as Mary Magdelene, and Telly Leung as Peter.
Per NYC.gov, cases have been on the rise in New York City though deaths have been decreasing. As the highly contagious Delta variant spreads, theaters will have to continue monitoring their companies to determine the safety of cast, crew and audiences.
