Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020

We're looking back at the past 12 months in pictures.

Dec. 31, 2020  

This year has been an interesting one. The theater community has been rocked by the shutdown of productions across the world due to the ongoing pandemic. But we've also seen incredibly moving protests, important calls for change, and the tenacity of actors, actresses, musicians, and crew members alike.

We're looking back at some of the biggest theater moments of 2020 that defined a year of on-stage and virtual triumphs.

Which theater moment of 2020 meant the most to you?

PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Lucy Barton was the first show to open in 2020 on Broadway.
Photo credit: Matthew Murphy
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
We also saw many shows end their runs at the start of 2020.
Photo credit: Bruce Glikas
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Eva Noblezada holds Hadestown's Grammy Award for
Best Musical Theater Album, which they won in January.
Photo credit: Bruce Glikas
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Many shows had started rehearsals for their Broadway openings,
including Flying Over Sunset.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Star of the stage and screen, Jordan Fisher, takes his first bow as Evan Hansen.
Photo credit: Jenny Anderson
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Ciara Renée and McKenzie Kurtz take their first bows as
the new Elsa and Anna in Frozen.
Sadly, the show will not reopen when theater returns.
Photo credit: Katherine Lee
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Original West Side Story cast members, Carol Lawrence and Jaime Sanchez,
meet with the 2020 revival leads Shereen Pimentel and Isaac Powell during their last preview before opening night.
Photo credit: Jenny Anderson
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Alexandra Billings made history as the
first openly transgender actress to portray Madame Morrible.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Rehearsals for the Caroline, Or Change revival had also been underway
before the shutdown took place.
Photo credit: Jeremy Daniel
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
To Kill a Mockingbird made history with their performance at
Madison Square Garden in February after performing to
a crowd of 18,000 NYC public school students.
Photo credit: Little Fang, Jenny Anderson
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Just before the Broadway shutdown, the revival of Company was
able to have its first preview.
Photo credit: Jenny Anderson
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
March 12 was a day we'll never forget- the start of the shutdown.
Photo credit: Jennifer Broski
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
After the death of George Floyd, people around the country took part in Black Lives Matter protests, including those in New York City.
Photo credit: Jessica Fallon Gordon
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
And with 2020 showing us that anything can happen,
Hamilton made its screen debut on Disney Plus over the summer.
Photo courtesy of Disney Plus.
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
The theater community always finds a way-- Berkshire Theater Company was able to perform Godspell as one of the first Actors' Equity approved-shows in the country since the pandemic began.
Photo credit: Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
The Ensemblist brought together Broadway performers for a
return to Times Square in a moving tribute to theatre.
Photo credit: Michaelah Reynolds and Mati Ficara
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
2020 also brought many film adaptations of stage favorites, including
The Boys in the Band streaming on Netflix.
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Diana had just started previews when Broadway shutdown.
In August, it was confirmed that the company was
filming the production for Netflix.
Photo credit: Little Fang
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
100 artists gathered in Times Square to demonstrate
the vitality of arts workers as a call to senators to
include arts workers and institutions in the federal relief conversation.
Photo credit: Michaelah Reynolds
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Remember how we said the theater community finds a way?
That continued on throughout the year as
popular events were made virtual, including Miscast2020!
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Radial Park at Hallets Point Play also created innovative theater with their drive-in productions. The season premiered with The Phantom of the Opera, starring Ali Ewoldt and Derrick Davis.
Photo credit: Tricia Baron
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Traditions were upheld: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was not
without its usual Broadway performances as
Hamilton, Ain't Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill, and Mean Girls performed.
Photo credit: Virginia Sherwood / NBC
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Casts were reunited in emotional ways at the year's end, like during the Disney Holiday Singalong when Broadway performers
from Disney's shows came together in song.
Photo credit: Ben Hider/ABC
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
The Grinch didn't steal Christmas this year!
Instead, NBC gave us the gift of another television musical
to enjoy for the holidays.
Photo credit: David Cotter/ NBC
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
80 freelance creatives, actors, and musicians were able to be employed for
The Old Vic: In Camera stream of Jack Thorne's A Christmas Carol.
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
The celebration of theater continued on NBC with their One Night Only special,
which raised over $3 million for BCEFA.
Photo credit: Virginia Sherwood / NBC
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
Netflix showed us that even in 2020, there's still time to dance!
The film adaptation of The Prom had us singing and dancing.
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
PHOTOS: A Look Back at Theater During 2020
The cast of the 15-time Tony Award-nominated musical Jagged Little Pill
reunited for an on-stage concert to wrap up the year.
Photo credit: Chad Kraus
BroadwayWorld Shop
Shop BroadwayWorld

Shop this season's new musicals! Get dressed up for a night at the theatre, or just a night at home, with merch from some of Broadway's biggest hits including SOME LIKE IT HOT, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, and more!
Start Shopping


Related Stories
LAVERNE & SHIRLEY Star Cindy Williams Passes Away At 75 Photo
LAVERNE & SHIRLEY Star Cindy Williams Passes Away At 75
Cindy Williams, a star of stage and screen and one half of the iconic duo, 'Laverne & Shirley' has passed away at the age of 75. 
Nominees Announced for 37th Annual Helen Hayes Awards Photo
Nominees Announced for 37th Annual Helen Hayes Awards
Nominations have been announced for the 37th Helen Hayes Awards, which will be presented on Monday, May 22. Nominees include productions from Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, GALA Hispanic Theatre and more.
BWW Flashback: A Look Back on the Exceptional Career of the Great Hal Prince Photo
BWW Flashback: A Look Back on the Exceptional Career of the Great Hal Prince
In honor of what would have been been his 95th Birthday, BroadwayWorld is looking back on the career of Hal Prince. See highlights from his incredible career in our interactive timeline and watch past performances from his works.
Broadway Bares to Take Place This June at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom Photo
Broadway Bares to Take Place This June at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom
Broadway Bares will once again kick off Pride week in New York City with two performances featuring more than 150 of the city’s dancers on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at Hammerstein Ballroom. See how to purchase tickets!

From This Author - Taylor Brethauer

Taylor Brethauer-Hamling is a Maryland native with a writing, design, video production, and social media background. She graduated from Manhattan College in May of 2019, receiving a Bachelor's ... (read more about this author)


RENT's Tommy Kaiser Takes Over Our Instagram Today!RENT's Tommy Kaiser Takes Over Our Instagram Today!
March 6, 2022

Tommy Kaiser, college winner of Next on Stage season two and current swing/Mark and Roger understudy, is taking over our Instagram story today, March 6! Don't miss his behind the scenes look at the tour's two show day in Philadelphia.
Student Blogs This Week - Audition Day Experiences, Study Break Tips, and MoreStudent Blogs This Week - Audition Day Experiences, Study Break Tips, and More
March 4, 2022

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. Finding the joy in rejection, favorite theatre moments, a letter to college friends, New York Fashion Week, a love of Shakespeare, learning to say no, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!
VIDEO: John Mulaney and the Cast of SNL Parody THE MUSIC MAN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and More in New NYC Musical SketchVIDEO: John Mulaney and the Cast of SNL Parody THE MUSIC MAN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and More in New NYC Musical Sketch
February 27, 2022

John Mulaney returned to Saturday Night Live on February 26 to host for a fifth time and brought back his recurring New York City musical sketch, this time about the New York City subway. Mulaney and the cast of the show performed parodies of South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, Singin' in the Rain, Dream Girls, Les Miserables, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
VIDEO: Beanie Feldstein and Ramin Karimloo Talk FUNNY GIRL RehearsalsVIDEO: Beanie Feldstein and Ramin Karimloo Talk FUNNY GIRL Rehearsals
February 25, 2022

Funny Girl is about to make its return to Broadway! The first-ever revival of the musical will have its first preview at the August Wilson on March 26 and officially open on April 24. The show's stars Beanie Feldstein (Fanny Brice) and Ramin Karimloo (Nick Arnstein) sat down together to talk about their favorite moments from the show's rehearsal process.
SIX's Andrea Macasaet Takes Over Our Instagram Today!SIX's Andrea Macasaet Takes Over Our Instagram Today!
February 24, 2022

Don't lose your head-- Andrea Macasaet is taking over our Instagram story today, February 24! She'll be giving our followers a behind-the-scenes look at the Broadway production of Six and you don't want to miss it.
share