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SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER PAVES THE WAY FOR A LIVELY BROADWAY RETURN
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER PAVES THE WAY FOR A LIVELY BROADWAY RETURN

Senator Chuck Schumer Paves the Way for a Lively Broadway Return

Theatres all across Broadway, New York, and the country have received substantial relief from the federal government through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. The Broadway community continues to thank Senator Chuck Schumer who fought tirelessly to get this program through Congress in December and pushed for more money for the program in the American Rescue Plan, along with providing flexibility for venues to get assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program and SVOG.

Among the Broadway shows that have benefited from SVOG are Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Company, Hadestown, Hamilton, Hangmen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Jagged Little Pill, The Phantom of the Opera, SIX, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Waitress. The 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story also received a grant to reopen before announcing it would not come back and would return the funds.

Venue operators that benefited from SVOG include Jujamcyn Theaters, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Nederlander Organization, Roundabout Theatre Company, and The Shubert Organization.

The SVOG program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants included live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theater operators (including owners), and talent representatives. Applicants could receive a maximum grant of $10 million.

The Senate Majority Leader has also been a champion in pressing the SBA (Small Business Association) to fix implementation problems so the money would flow to all eligible applicants. Thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer’s efforts, Broadway can make it through this crisis and recover.