On March 12, New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, announced that all gatherings of 500 people or more would be cancelled. The Broadway League, which represents the Broadway industry, also announced that all shows would be cancelled until April 13. This then creates financial strains on those who work in the Broadway industry, as their jobs are centered around these large gatherings. On March 22, Rosie O’Donnell returned for a one-night only live-streamed episode of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” promoting the Actors Fund which “fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.” O’Donnell was joined by some of the top names in the community, including Ben Platt, Idina Menzel, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, all encouraging donations to The Actor’s Fund, which supports actors, as well as others within the theatre community such as ushers, hair stylists, dressers, ect. After a successful night, the three and a half hour event, raised over $600,000!
