(Credit: Metropolitan Opera)

The Broadway league has announced that theaters will remain closed until Sept. 6.

The news draws a major shadow over the prospects of whether or not opera companies will be able to open on time for the 2020-21 season. On Saturday May 10, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Peter Gelb told radio host Mary Jo Heath, “The performing arts were the first to shut down and they will probably be the last to reopen.”

This statement follows a previous one he made to The New York Times recently in which he stated that it might take a “miraculous situation” for the company to return in the fall. Given this information, it is not hard to imagine that the Met Opera is going to have to reimagine it’s own opening to the 2020-21 season, which is currently scheduled for Sept. 21, 2020.

Lockdown for Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera started on March 12 after Governor Cuomo restricted gatherings of more than 50 people, making the theater sector the first to close. As of now, it is included in the last phase of reopening in New York’s plan. The reopening was originally set to kick off on May 15, 2020,  but last week the Governor announced that he was extending the Stay at Home order for certain areas of New York including New York City, which would not enter Phase one until early June.

Phase one will include construction and manufacturing and some curbside retail but no date for the city has been given.  With no dates for Phase four to commence, the Broadway League also announced it will continue to work with city and state officials to determine an appropriate date for performances to resume and will provide updates to the public as decisions are made. According to the Hollywood Reporter insider believe reopening will not begin until 2021.

Broadway theater capacity ranges from 600 to 1500, while the Metropolitan Opera seats 3,800.

While no decisions have been made from any of Lincoln Center’s performing arts venues or most performing arts venues around the country, recent developments indicate that this upcoming season will be anything but usual.

In Boston, the Boston Baroque is set to reimagine its 2020-21 season as it will not be allowed to perform at the New England Conservatory. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that he believed entertainment venues would likely not be open until 2021. Furthering that, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced that international travel would likely be banned until next year, something that limits the opera world as performers live in various countries.

Finally in Italy, one of the hardest hit countries in Europe, Rome Opera’s Sovrintendente Carlos Fuortes announced that a fall season would be impossible due to the restrictions in closed venues. The Teatro alla Scala has also reimagined its fall season announcing productions of “La Boheme,” “Aida” and “La Traviata,” which had not been previously scheduled.

As the next weeks come and cities begin their reopening phases, more information will be available.