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‘Thoughts of a Colored Man’ and ‘Waitress’ go dark on Broadway amid Omicron

The Great White Way was darker on Christmas Eve as two Broadway productions permanently closed due to surging COVID-19 cases.

The shows “Waitress” and “Thoughts of a Colored Man” said on Friday that their productions would not reopen after performing their final shows earlier this week, according to Playbill.

Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress” returned to Broadway in September and was expected to run through next month, but its limited engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre was also thwarted by cases of the virus among its cast and company, the outlet said.

The Tony-nominated hit was known for being the first Broadway musical composed, written, directed, and choreographed by women. It played 1,544 performances since 2016.

“Thoughts” — a Keenan Scott II play which explored a day in the life of seven black Brooklyn men — had 79 performances at the Golden Theatre, but was besieged by COVID cases among its cast members. Its final show was Wednesday.

Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress” has been wrecked by ongoing COVID-19 cases in its production, according to Playbill.
Bruce Glikas/Getty Images

“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, being part of this historic season on Broadway has been the greatest privilege of our lives,” producers Brian Moreland, Ron Simons, Diana DiMenna, Kandi Burruss, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Samira Wiley said in a statement, according to the Playbill.

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“The theatre industry’s great return is about so much more than the success or failure of any single production. As a community, we remain undeterred, unflinching, and unstoppable. We have never been prouder to be theatre makers than at this very moment.”

(Left to right) Luke James, Bjorn DuPaty, playwright Keenan Scott II and Tristan Mack Wilds perform in "Thoughts of a Colored Man" on Dec. 21, 2021.
(Left to right) Luke James, Bjorn DuPaty, playwright Keenan Scott II and Tristan Mack Wilds perform in “Thoughts of a Colored Man” on Dec. 21, 2021.
Thoughts of a Colored Man/Tricia Baron via AP
Sara Bareilles' "Waitress" has been in production since 2016.
Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress” has been in production since 2016.
Jenny Anderson/WireImage

“David Byrne’s American Utopia,” “Come From Away,” “MJ The Musical,” “The Lion King,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” “Dear Evan Hanson,” “Hamilton” and “Aladdin” were among the other productions that announced additional canceled shows on Friday.

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