Broadway to require vaccinations, masks for audience members

NEW YORK – Broadway theatergoers volition request to beryllium they've been vaccinated for COVID-19 and masks volition beryllium required erstwhile theaters reopen successful the coming weeks, producers announced Friday.

Audience members volition person to deterioration look coverings and amusement impervious they are afloat vaccinated by a FDA oregon WHO authorized vaccine erstwhile they participate the theaters until astatine slightest the extremity of October, the Broadway League said successful a quality release.

“Get vaccinated, and we’ll spot you successful the fall,” tweeted Broadway and TV prima Jeremy Jordan. Composer Jason Robert Brown besides agreed with the move: “That’s right. That’s wherever we’re at.”

There volition beryllium exceptions to the vaccine regularisation for children nether 12, who are not yet eligible for immoderate of the approved shots, and for radical with a aesculapian information oregon spiritual content that prevents vaccination, the theatre operators said. Those individuals volition request to amusement impervious of a antagonistic COVID-19 test. Masks are required for the assemblage but portion eating oregon drinking successful designated locations.

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The League said theatre owners expect a reappraisal of the information policies successful September and whitethorn see a relaxation of definite provisions if the subject dictates aft October.

“This is what we person arsenic a assemblage connected Broadway decided and past we’re going to reevaluate it successful October. It’s inactive fluid,” Bonnie Comley, committee president of The Drama League, told The Associated Press. “This should beryllium a affirmative thing. All these antithetic unions that don’t ever hold person travel unneurotic to beryllium capable to bash this earlier radical travel into the theater.”

The determination comes a time aft Actors’ Equity Association, the national which represents astir 52,000 actors and signifier managers, said it would necessitate formed and unit members to beryllium afloat vaccinated against COVID-19.

Company members who are not vaccinated, including those nether the property of 12, indispensable proceed to deterioration masks, signifier carnal distancing erstwhile imaginable and acquisition investigating astatine slightest doubly a week. The protocols use to some Broadway productions and Equity-backed shows crossed the nation.

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Bruce Springsteen's one-man amusement is the lone show presently moving connected Broadway. Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s “Pass Over” is acceptable to unfastened Wednesday astatine the August Wilson Theatre. Most different theaters volition unfastened successful September oregon October aft being shuttered since the coronavirus pandemic deed successful March 2020.

Ticket holders for performances scheduled done Oct. 31 volition beryllium notified of the vaccination policy, Broadway League officials said. For performances successful November 2021 and beyond, the theatre operators volition reappraisal the argumentation and made changes if subject dictates, they said.

“As vaccination has proven the astir effectual mode to enactment steadfast and trim transmission, I’m pleased that the theatre owners person decided to instrumentality these corporate safeguards astatine each our Broadway houses,” Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin said successful a statement.

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