Schumer gets shoutout, standing ovation from crowd at Tony Awards

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was on the receiving end of a shoutout during the annual Tony Awards on Sunday night for his work leading the charge on bipartisan legislation supporting the performing arts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Schumer stood and raised his fists before the crowd gathered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City after he was acknowledged, holding his face covering with the words “Save Our Stages” written on it in front of the camera as applause rang out. 

“Senator, thanks to your leadership, Broadway’s community of 97,000 workers is going back to work,” presenter Leslie Odom Jr. said during the shout-out of the Democratic leader. 

Broadway is back!

And I’m so proud to have fought to deliver funding to #SaveOurStages to help so many theaters, and venues, and artists, and stagehands, and staff, and more.#TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/SvSqUeT6x0

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 26, 2021

The then-Senate minority leader spearheaded an effort last year to secure $15 billion in the coronavirus aid deal Congress reached in December to include funding for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions. 

“These venues are so important to my state and many states across the country — they are the lifeblood of our communities,” Schumer said at the time. “They were first to close, and will be the last to open. The bill gives them a fighting chance.”

Broadway reopened at 100 percent capacity earlier this month after being shuttered since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Beginning in August, New York required proof of vaccination for workers and customers who want to attend events indoors.