01of 25’Opening Up’Audiences were so excited to be seeing the first musical to open on Broadway since the shutdown that they applauded the “Turn Off Your Cellphone” announcement before the curtain even rose.

01of 25

‘Opening Up’

Audiences were so excited to be seeing the first musical to open on Broadway since the shutdown that they applauded the “Turn Off Your Cellphone” announcement before the curtain even rose.

02of 25Time to CelebrateBruce Glikas/GettyOn Sept. 14, some of Broadway’s favorites re-opened, includingHamilton, The Lion KingandWicked.In honor of Broadway’s big night, the casts of all three shows gathered together ahead of opening.

02of 25

Time to Celebrate

Bruce Glikas/Getty

Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast members from “Hamilton”, “Lion King”, “Wicked” and “Chicago” perform “New York, New York” during the “Ham4Ham Lottery” before the show at the Re-Opening of “Hamilton” on Broadway at The Richard Rogers Theater on September 14, 2021

On Sept. 14, some of Broadway’s favorites re-opened, includingHamilton, The Lion KingandWicked.In honor of Broadway’s big night, the casts of all three shows gathered together ahead of opening.

03of 25

Coming Together

04of 25’You’ll Be Back’TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via GettyAudiences were thrilled that they were able to see live theater once more.

04of 25

‘You’ll Be Back’

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty

People show their vaccination cards as they wait to attend the Broadway musical “Hamilton” on September 14, 2021 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York, as the highest grossing Broadway musical of all time returns after 18 months in the dark due the coronavirus pandemic

Audiences were thrilled that they were able to see live theater once more.

05of 25Not Throwing Away Their ShotAlexi Rosenfeld/GettySome even dressed the part!Audiences who wish to see a show must provide proof of vaccination and remain masked. Theater-goers under 12 years of age who can’t be vaccinated can provide a negative COVID test.

05of 25

Not Throwing Away Their Shot

Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty

Andrew Fosset, from New York City, NY, dressed in a time period inspired costume, walks through a metal detector at “Hamilton” at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on reopening night on September 14, 2021 in New York City

Some even dressed the part!

Audiences who wish to see a show must provide proof of vaccination and remain masked. Theater-goers under 12 years of age who can’t be vaccinated can provide a negative COVID test.

06of 25Willing to ‘Wait for It’Mirandaaddressed the audience before the show, saying, “I don’t ever want to take live theater for granted ever again.”

06of 25

Willing to ‘Wait for It’

Mirandaaddressed the audience before the show, saying, “I don’t ever want to take live theater for granted ever again.”

07of 25’The Story of Tonight’Bruce Glikas/WireImageThe cast ofHamiltonwas visibly emotional at the show’s first curtain call since the March 2020 Broadway shutdown.

07of 25

‘The Story of Tonight’

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Jin Ha as “Aaron Burr”, Krystal Joy Brown as Eliza Hamilton, Miguel Cervantes as “Alexander Hamilton” and cast take the curtain call at the Re-Opening of “Hamilton” on Broadway at The Richard Rogers Theater on September 14, 2021 in New York City

The cast ofHamiltonwas visibly emotional at the show’s first curtain call since the March 2020 Broadway shutdown.

08of 25We Want to Be in the ‘Room Where It Happens’Even after the curtain call, the audience continued to applaud as the cast celebrated on stage, embracing and dancing together.

08of 25

We Want to Be in the ‘Room Where It Happens’

Even after the curtain call, the audience continued to applaud as the cast celebrated on stage, embracing and dancing together.

09of 25’Just Can’t Wait’ to Be BackJenny Anderson/GettyAudiences were elated to see another long-running Broadway favorite,The Lion King,return to the stage.

09of 25

‘Just Can’t Wait’ to Be Back

Jenny Anderson/Getty

The audience during curtain call of the Broadway reopening of “The Lion King” at The Minksoff Theatre on September 14, 2021 in New York City.

Audiences were elated to see another long-running Broadway favorite,The Lion King,return to the stage.

10of 25

‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’

11of 25’All That Jazz’Alexi Rosenfeld/GettyThe long-runningChicagoalso re-opened on Sept. 14 to audiences who gave the show a standing ovation.

11of 25

‘All That Jazz’

Audience members applaud and cheer during “Chicago” at Ambassador Theatre on reopening night on September 14, 2021 in New York City

The long-runningChicagoalso re-opened on Sept. 14 to audiences who gave the show a standing ovation.

12of 25The Ol’ ‘Razzle Dazzle’Everyone got a shoutout in the curtain call as members of the company threw flower petals in the air and the crowd roared.

12of 25

The Ol’ ‘Razzle Dazzle’

Everyone got a shoutout in the curtain call as members of the company threw flower petals in the air and the crowd roared.

13of 25’A Little Bit of Good’Alexi Rosenfeld/GettyPicture right, Bianca Marroquín, who plays Velma Kelly in the show, accepting a bouquet of flowers on opening night.

13of 25

‘A Little Bit of Good’

Bianca Marroquín on stage during “Chicago” at Ambassador Theatre on reopening night on September 14, 2021 in New York City

Picture right, Bianca Marroquín, who plays Velma Kelly in the show, accepting a bouquet of flowers on opening night.

14of 25Back … ‘For Good’Bruce Glikas/GettyThere to help with the re-opening night ofWickedwas original cast member, Kristin Chenoweth! Chenoweth played Glinda when the show first opened in 2003, scoring a Tony nomination for her work.

14of 25

Back … ‘For Good’

Kristin Chenoweth, who was the original “Glinda” in the production, surprises the audience and welcomes them back to Broadway at The Re-Opening Night of “Wicked” on Broadway at The Gershwin Theatre on September 14, 2021

There to help with the re-opening night ofWickedwas original cast member, Kristin Chenoweth! Chenoweth played Glinda when the show first opened in 2003, scoring a Tony nomination for her work.

15of 25

‘It’s Good to See Us, Isn’t It?’

16of 25’Thank Goodness’Jenny Anderson/GettyAudience members hugged after the show concluded.

16of 25

‘Thank Goodness’

The audience of “Wicked” during curtain call of its Broadway reopening at Gershwin Theatre on September 14, 2021 in New York City

Audience members hugged after the show concluded.

17of 25’What Is This Feeling?‘Jenny Anderson/GettySome audience members were emotional over the long-awaited return.

17of 25

‘What Is This Feeling?’

The audience during curtain call of the Broadway reopening of “Wicked” at Gershwin Theatre on September 14, 2021 in New York City

Some audience members were emotional over the long-awaited return.

18of 25Take Your BowJenny Anderson/GettyPictured: Ginna Claire Mason and Lindsay Pearce taking their bows at curtain call to much applause.

18of 25

Take Your Bow

Ginna Claire Mason and Lindsay Pearce during curtain call of the Broadway reopening of “Wicked” at Gershwin Theatre on September 14, 2021 in New York City.

Pictured: Ginna Claire Mason and Lindsay Pearce taking their bows at curtain call to much applause.

19of 25Simply ‘Wonderful’The curtain call was captured from the audience, with the cast receiving a standing ovation.

19of 25

Simply ‘Wonderful’

The curtain call was captured from the audience, with the cast receiving a standing ovation.

20of 25’What’s Inside’Bruce Glikas/GettyWaitressre-opened on Sept. 2, and the cast ended the show with atribute to the late Nick Cordero, who was part of the original cast. Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, joined the cast onstage to sing Cordero’s song, “Live Your Life.”

20of 25

‘What’s Inside’

Amanda Kloots

Waitressre-opened on Sept. 2, and the cast ended the show with atribute to the late Nick Cordero, who was part of the original cast. Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, joined the cast onstage to sing Cordero’s song, “Live Your Life.”

21of 25Have a Slice of Back on Broadway PieSara Bareilles, who both wrote and currently stars inWaitress,said in a video taken during intermission on re-opening night, “We keep saying it’s like a sitcom out there. There is entrance applause, exit applause, applause for a look, applause for a spoon! It is utterly magical.“She added, “The audience is absolutely incredible. We’re having a blast. It feels so good to be here. It feels so rich and so healing.”

21of 25

Have a Slice of Back on Broadway Pie

Sara Bareilles, who both wrote and currently stars inWaitress,said in a video taken during intermission on re-opening night, “We keep saying it’s like a sitcom out there. There is entrance applause, exit applause, applause for a look, applause for a spoon! It is utterly magical.”

She added, “The audience is absolutely incredible. We’re having a blast. It feels so good to be here. It feels so rich and so healing.”

22of 25

Hadestownalso re-opened on Sept. 2 to enthusiastic audiences, and the cast was absolutely “livin’ it up” as a result.

23of 25’We Raise Our Cups’Bruce Glikas/WireImageAlongside the show’s director, Rachel Chavkin, the company raised a cup — as they usually do at the end of each show — but this time with a whole new reason to celebrate.

23of 25

‘We Raise Our Cups’

Tom Hewitt, Andre De Shields, Director Rachel Chavkin, Timothy Hughes, Composer Anaïs Mitchell, Tara Jackson, Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney during the curtain call for the re-opening night since the pandemic shutdown of “Hadestown” at The Walter Kerr Theatre on September 02, 2021 in New York City

Alongside the show’s director, Rachel Chavkin, the company raised a cup — as they usually do at the end of each show — but this time with a whole new reason to celebrate.

24of 25’Livin’ It Up on Top’Then, they stood on balconies, singing Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me” to audiences below.“After the show, we celebrated the best way we know how… we took the party to 48th Street!#SpringHasComeAgain,“read a postfrom the musical’s Instagram account.

24of 25

‘Livin’ It Up on Top'

Then, they stood on balconies, singing Bill Withers' “Lean On Me” to audiences below.

“After the show, we celebrated the best way we know how… we took the party to 48th Street!#SpringHasComeAgain,“read a postfrom the musical’s Instagram account.

25of 25’Wait for Me’Bruce Glikas/WireImageAfter audiences involuntarily took the directive “Wait for Me” from one of the show’s musical numbers very literally for the past 18 months, there was cause to smile and make merry.Pictured: Reeve Carney, Andre De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada and Tom Hewitt showering the crowd below with flowers.

25of 25

‘Wait for Me’

Reeve Carney, Andre De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada and Tom Hewitt during the post curtain celebration for the re-opening night since the pandemic shutdown of “Hadestown” at The Walter Kerr Theatre on September 02, 2021 in New York City

After audiences involuntarily took the directive “Wait for Me” from one of the show’s musical numbers very literally for the past 18 months, there was cause to smile and make merry.

Pictured: Reeve Carney, Andre De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada and Tom Hewitt showering the crowd below with flowers.

source: people.com