Broadway Goes Dark from Blizzard
Almost all evening Broadway performances were cancelled Sunday, February 22 due to a major winter storm expected to dump up to two feet of snow on New York City. *Operation Mincemeat* initially planned to perform but ultimately cancelled its show, opting instead to offer a free livestream concert for fans. This marks one of the rare occasions in recent years that Broadway has gone almost entirely dark due to weather.
- The major nor'easter, unofficially named Winter Storm Hernando, prompted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to declare a state of emergency and a citywide travel ban. This was the first blizzard warning for New York City since 2017. - Snowfall from the storm varied across the city, with 9.3 inches recorded in Central Park and up to 14 inches on Staten Island. The storm was part of a larger system that affected over 54 million people across the Northeast. - The city's transportation was severely impacted, with a travel ban on all non-essential vehicles from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon on Monday. The Long Island Rail Road suspended service, and the MTA ran modified subway and bus schedules. - The impromptu *Operation Mincemeat* concert was performed at the Laurie Beechman Theatre for an audience that was supposed to be at an afterparty for the original cast's final performance. The concert, featuring a selection of songs from the show, was livestreamed on the musical's Instagram account. - The cancellation of the Sunday evening performance of *Operation Mincemeat* was particularly significant as it was scheduled to be the final show for the original Broadway cast. An all-American cast was scheduled to take over the roles beginning Tuesday, February 24. - Historically, only about one in ten Broadway shows recoups its investment. While specific financial losses from this blizzard are not yet calculated, past weather events like Hurricane Sandy have led to significant drops in attendance and box office revenue. - The decision to cancel performances is typically made by the Broadway League in response to major civic measures, such as a shutdown of public transportation or a declared state of emergency, to ensure the safety of casts, crews, and audiences. - This storm marked the first traditional "snow day" for New York City public schools since 2019, with both in-person and remote learning cancelled.
