The Show Must Go On: Local Theaters in the Age of COVID-19

Abstract

Theater has been one of countless facets of society impacted by COVID-19, the infectious disease that has killed nearly 584,000 people in the United States as of mid-May. People who are employed in or have a passion for the arts have been without the theater since 5 p.m. on March 12, when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo enacted new restrictions to try to stop the spread of the virus. Three local theaters—Elmwood in Nyack, New York, Antrim Theater in Suffern, New York, and Curtain Call in Stamford, Connecticut—have all battled to stay afloat after shutting their doors during the pandemic.