Barry Manilow. Image: Instagram/@barrymanilowofficial
Barry Manilow was not present in the New York premiere of his long-awaited musical “Harmony: A New Musical,” after he tested positive for COVID-19 hours before the show opened.
The “Mandy” singer expressed his disappointment and described the situation as the “cruelest thing” that happened to him, as per his Instagram page today, April 14.
“I am heartbroken to say that I have just tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t be able to attend tonight’s opening night performance of my new musical ‘Harmony,’“ he said. “This just might be the cruelest thing that has ever happened to me: 25 years waiting for this show to premiere in New York and I can’t attend.”
Despite his condition, Manilow urged fans to watch the show while following the minimum health protocols to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus.
“Even in the face of this pandemic, we New Yorkers remain the toughest, staunchest people on the planet — so, put on a mask and go see a show!” he stated.
“Harmony,” written by Manilow and his musical collaborator Bruce Sussman, tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in 1920s Germany who sold millions of records and starred in more than a dozen films. The show will run until May 8 in Manhattan. JB
RELATED STORIES:
From Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, music greats sell rights to labels
Universal Music can’t help falling for Elvis Presley, to manage his song catalog