Click to see see either photograph enlarged
For information about 2017, check out Broadway and Blizzards: Questions and Answers.
Update, January 24, 9:45 am: Subway and bus service has been restored this morning. “All Broadway shows are playing as scheduled, today, Sunday, January 24th,” says the Broadway League.
Update, January 23, 10 pm: All Saturday shows on Broadway have been canceled, says The Broadway League.
Most Off-Broadway shows have been canceled Saturday as well, according to The League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers, and individual Off-Off Broadway shows have canceled because of the travel ban.
New York Gov. Cuomo declared a state of emergency for New York City.
The National Weather Service said 25.1 inches of snow had fallen on Central Park by Saturday at 7:30 p.m. By the time the snow had stopped, Winter Storm Jonas* was being proclaimed (not hailed) as the city’s second-biggest blizzard since 1869.
All flights from LGA and JFK Airports were canceled. The MTA suspended bus service starting at noon. #Blizzard2016 in NY is forecasted up to 24 inches of snowfall.
As with any snowstorm, theatergoers ask three questions (besides, How bad will it be?):
Will the shows be canceled?
Broadway League: “As a result of the ban on travel in New York and suspension of public transportation by government authorities and additional safety precautions implemented due to severe weather, all Broadway matinee and evening performances on Saturday, January 23rd, will be cancelled.”
Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League: “Now that the snowstorm has arrived, I’d like to reiterate that the safety and security of theatregoers and employees is everyone’s primary concern. As a result of the ban on travel in New York and the suspension of public transportation by government authorities and other safety precautions implemented on behalf of the weather, matinee and evening performances will be cancelled tonight, January 23rd. We expect normal operations to resume for tomorrow’s Sunday matinees.”
Most other theater in New York City will be canceled. All Theater Row and all New World Stages shows have been canceled.
What if I can’t make it to a show for which I have tickets?
For information about refunds and exchanges, please contact the point of purchase (if not listed below, please contact the theater’s box office directly):
- Telecharge: 800-447-7400 or online at telecharge.com
- Ticketmaster: 877-250-2929 or Ticketmaster)
(For Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots and Something Rotten!, please call the Jujamcyn support line at Ticketmaster:
888-444-7907) - Disney on Broadway: 866-870-2717
- Roundabout Theatre: 212-719-1300
Most venues require exchanges in advance of the performance to which you have tickets.
Will there be snow day discounts?
Look on Twitter; check out the Twitter feed of your favorite show(s). They are unlikely to advertise their snow day discounts on their websites.
Check out my #Snowday Discounts? post
BroadwayCon, the first-ever convention of theater fans, running from Friday to Sunday, has issued an updated Inclement Weather Policy, which reads in part:
“We will be honoring all unused Saturday day passes on Sunday. If you are unable to get to BroadwayCon today, we can’t wait to see you tomorrow for another exciting day of programming.”
Kate Shindle, the president of Actors Equity Association, writes: “Equity members: If you experience performance/rehearsal-related emergencies this weekend due to Winter Storm Jonas, pls call 866-270-4232”
*What turns a “winter storm” like Jonas into a “blizzard”? Snow PLUS high winds (=low visibility.) The same storm may become a blizzard in some locations and not others
