STORY:
Broadway May Not Go Dark On New Year's Eve

Mayor Giuliani rejects police plan to shut down theaters

Mayor Giuliani has rejected a Police department plan to shut down theaters in Broadway's famous theater district. The New York Post had reported plans headed by police commissioner Howard Safir that had all the theaters closing down New Year's Eve to reduce traffic to an already busy Times Square and reduce the possibility of violence.

"You have to come up with some kind of limit and allow the signature entertainment for New York - Broadway - to take place" on New Year's Eve, the mayor told the New York Post. According to the Post, Police Commissioner Howard Safir hadn't told him about the plan and that Giuliani found out about it by reading The Post. But a spokesperson tells the Post, Safir knew of the plan but insists no closure order was given.

The Post says the move - which producers generally supported - would mean a loss in revenue for shows that sold advance tickets. Giuliani said it was up to the theater owners to decide whether to raise their curtains on Dec. 31.

"The idea of policing a city is to allow legitimate businesses, particularly businesses that are signature businesses within the city, to thrive and grow and to exist, not to close them down," Giuliani said told the Post.

But some producers said they still plan to close and insisted they weren't ordered to shut their doors. Jed Bernstein, president of the American League of Theaters and Producers, told the Post the "consensus" among producers was to close.

Alan Wassler, general manager of the megahits "Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera," said those shows would be closed. "Chicago" producer Barry Weissler said he canceled the show two weeks ago, offering refunds and complimentary tickets for another evening.

Source: New York Post

DATE: 7/08/99

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