FANFAQ: What Does It Take for Broadway to Cancel Performances?
The city says stay home. Broadway says the show goes on.
There’s a State of Emergency and New York City is preparing to be hit with 8 to 12 inches of snow. Schools are closed, and Gov. Kathy Hochul tells residents to “stay at home as much as possible.”
Then, late Saturday night, The Broadway League posts an update:
Most Broadway shows in New York City are currently scheduled to perform tomorrow (Sunday) as planned.
Within minutes, the comment section fills with confusion, frustration, and concern — not just from fans, but from performers and theater workers themselves.
Jenna Bainbridge, who plays Nessarose in Wicked, wrote:
“There’s a literal STATE OF EMERGENCY and it’s not safe to be forcing the thousands of theatre workers (and ticket holders who can’t cancel because of fine print) to come to shows??”
Other performers echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that while Broadway often frames performances as optional for audiences, they are not optional for workers expected to commute in hazardous conditions.
That frustration is compounded by ticketing policies. Most Broadway shows operate under strict cancellation and exchange rules, particularly for discounted or advance-purchase tickets. In many cases, tickets are non-refundable, and exchanges are either limited or unavailable unless a performance is officially canceled by the production.
That means when shows remain scheduled, fans are often left choosing between braving unsafe conditions or forfeiting the cost of their tickets entirely, unless they paid extra for ticket insurance. Some box offices may work with patrons on a case-by-case basis, but this is not guaranteed and varies by production.
If you’re wondering why, during a declared emergency, Broadway is still open? Here’s what actually determines when performances are canceled.
What does it take for Broadway to cancel performances?
Broadway does not typically operate under a single, centralized shutdown decision.
While The Broadway League — the trade organization representing Broadway producers and theater owners — can issue guidance and, in rare cases, coordinate industry-wide closures, most day-to-day decisions about whether a performance goes on are made show by show, based on whether a production can safely and logistically operate.
The most common reasons a Broadway performance is canceled are internal to a production, such as:
Cast or crew illness
Multiple absences that can’t be covered by alternates or swings
Technical or safety issues inside the theater
In these cases, the decision is straightforward. If a show can’t be safely performed, it doesn’t go on.
Weather, however, is treated very differently.
Snowstorms, heavy rain, or extreme cold rarely trigger automatic cancellations. In practice, public transportation acts as the unofficial benchmark.
As long as the city’s transit system is running, even with delays, most Broadway productions are expected to perform. Severe weather only becomes a shutdown issue when it prevents the city from functioning at all.
The last time Broadway formally shut down due to weather was in January 2016, when a blizzard that brought two feet of snow led the government to ban travel and public transportation in the city was suspended. Before that, Broadway closed in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy caused widespread devastation.
During this weekend’s snowstorm, however, New Jersey Transit announced early closures, but the MTA continued bus and subway operations within the city. As a result, many shows remained open.
That said, because decisions are made show by show, some productions did choose to cancel. Among those that shut their doors outright were The Lion King and Aladdin, with ticket holders receiving refunds.
Others productions remained open but adjusted their approach. For example, Hamilton offered ticket exchanges for patrons unable to attend. Meanwhile, Bug announced discounted tickets to encourage attendance despite the storm.
Many other shows simply reaffirmed that performances would continue as scheduled, leaving audiences to navigate individual box office policies on their own.
When does Broadway shut down entirely?
Industry-wide closures are extremely rare and only occur under extraordinary circumstances, when Broadway is forced to stop by necessity, not choice.
This includes:
Government-mandated closures
Citywide emergencies that halt transportation
Public health crises
Industry strikes
In recent history, that’s meant moments like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic — situations where the city itself could not function normally.
So to put things simply, Broadway doesn’t close because conditions are uncomfortable. It closes when it cannot operate. Understanding how the system works doesn’t mean endorsing it — especially when it creates real challenges for fans and performers — but it does explain why these moments continue to spark confusion.
FANFAQ is a recurring column from Fangirl Forward that demystifies the entertainment industry for fans. Got something you’ve always wondered about? Send us your question here.