The 2020s
Broadway in a Post-Pandemic World
The 2020s began with the COVID-19 pandemic that touched every aspect of life, ranging from the way people worked and socialized, to the way they consumed entertainment. Social movements like Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate became mainstream conversations that led to a heightened focus on equity, mental health, and social awareness.
Popular culture became more introspective and nostalgic, and reboots, celebrity biopics, and sensitive music dominated the media. People began searching for comfort and solace in a chaotic and scary world, and streaming platforms and apps like TikTok exploded in popularity during Lockdown. They influenced everything from toilet paper, to coffee, to fashion, and Broadway cast recordings.
The 2020s have once again been a transformative decade for Broadway and musical theater, marked by resilience, innovation, and a renewed commitment to diversity.
Musical theater began the decade with an unprecedented lockdown as the pandemic saw all the lights go out on Broadway in March of 2020. The closure lasted for 18 months, the longest in its history. It resulted in economic devastation, production halts, and insecurity across the industry. In response, Broadway began to shift to digital platforms, with productions like Hamilton reaching new audiences through streaming services such as Disney+. The Black Lives Matter movement also sparked important conversations about representation and equity in the arts, with initiatives like We See You, White American Theater pushing for systemic change.
Broadway began its gradual return in 2021, reopening theaters with health protocols and bringing back both delayed premieres and new productions. Some sadly never came back. Musicals like Six (Broadway premiere: October 3, 2021), Moulin Rouge! (Broadway premiere: July 25, 2019, reopened post-pandemic: September 24, 2021) and Jagged Little Pill (Broadway premiere, December 5, 2019, reopened post-pandemic: October 21, 2021) finally opened or reopened.
Digital theater, however, continued to remain popular, with more productions exploring filmed and livestreamed formats. In 2022, the stage was filled with a unique mix of new productions. As Playbill stated in 2022, "Two years after the shutdown, Broadway is back—but it looks different," with shows embracing identity, legacy, and fearless reinvention.
A Strange Loop won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and other debuts included MJ the Musical, Kimberly Akimbo, and Paradise Square. Revivals like The Music Man satisfied audiences starved for familiarity and star power. By 2023, original storytelling and inclusive narratives had gained momentum. Kimberly Akimbo won Best Musical at the Tony Awards, and new shows such as Shucked and Here Lies Love were experimental and focused on audience engagement. The revival of Merrily We Roll Along was a huge hit.
There was also a clear push for broader representation of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent voices on stage. In 2024, Broadway found a renewed sense of energy. Musical biopics and jukebox musicals have remained popular with shows like The Notebook, The Outsiders, and Hell’s Kitchen (inspired by the life of Alicia Keys). These musicals have seen success as they touch on nostalgia, emotional appeal, and relatable storylines.
Pandemic Broadway!
At the same time, high-profile flops such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella (opening in March 2023 and closing after 85 performances) and Tammy Faye (opening in November 2024 and closing on December 2024 after 29 performances), demonstrated the pattern set for decades, that star power like Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Weber is not enough to save a costly and ambitious yet poorly received musical.
So far, the 2020s have proven to be a decade of adaptation, experimentation, and a reimagining of what musical theater can be. It is also proving to be a decade that may not have learned from the history lessons of the past, leaving history to continue to repeat itself.
The curtain remains open.
