The upcoming Broadway production of The Music Man has canceled is preview performances through the end of the year after its lead actor, Hugh Jackman, tested positive for COVID-19. The show, which is currently in previews and is set to officially open in February, will resume its preview shows this Sunday, January 2, according to The Hollywood Reporter
The two-time Tony Award-winning actor announced the news of his breakthrough case yesterday on his Instagram account. “I just wanted you to hear from me that I tested positive this morning for COVID. My symptoms are like a cold — I have a scratchy throat and a bit of a runny nose,” he actor said in a 35-second video. “But I’m fine and I’m just going to do everything I can to get better ASAP and as soon as I’m cleared I’ll be back on stage heading to River City.”
The musical’s company also announced yesterday on its official Twitter account that all of its performances will be canceled through this Saturday, New Year’s Day. Tickets for the production’s holiday season shows will be refunded or exchanged at point of purchase.
The highly anticipated revival of Meredith Wilson’s classic musical, which was originally expected to open in September 2020 before the pandemic shut Broadway down for months, began previews on Monday, December 20. It then had to cancel its Christmas day performance and December 26 matinee, due to COVID breakthrough cases amongst its cast.
The Music Man’s latest extended performance cancellations comes after Jackman’s co-star and fellow two-time Tony Award-winner, Sutton Foster, confirmed she also tested positive for COVID. She received the news on Christmas Eve, after she missed a preview performance the day before.
Foster will immediately return to the production when it resumes on January 2. Jackman is expected to recommence his performances on January 6.
Both of the Broadway show’s stars are celebrating the company’s understudies who are helping the show go on. Jackman recently paid tribute to the understudies after Kathy Voytko, Sutton Foster’s understudy for her character of Marian Paroo, filled in for her on short notice after she tested positive. After one of The Music Man‘s recent preview performances, Jackman called the understudies “the bedrock of Broadway…I’m emotional because it humbles me. Their courage, their brilliance, their dedication, their talent,” he said.
On Christmas, The Music Man joined a growing number of Broadway productions that shut down during the holiday week, with some like SIX extending their show cancellations through the end of the year. Others, like David Byrne’s American Utopia, are reworking their shows to help compensate for the breakthrough cases within the company.
The Music Man is struggling to keep its cast and crew healthy, as COVID is surging. The omicron variant is causing breakthrough infections and contributing to record cases in New York City.
Such Broadway shows as Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hamilton and The Lion King have also been forced to cancel performances due to breakthrough cases. Other productions, such as Ain’t Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill and Waitress have ended their runs early as COVID continues to keep ticket sales down.