Broadway shows will require performers, theater staff and members of the public to be vaccinated

Producers of Broadway shows are adjusting their reopening plans to now require all members of the public, as well as anyone working in theaters, to be vaccinated. The move comes as city and state governments, as well as the federal government, will require employees to be vaccinated (or tested for COVID weekly), and more companies to formalize their own vaccine mandates.

Customers will also be required to wear masks inside the theater, except when eating or drinking in certain sections.

“As vaccination has proven to be the most effective way to stay healthy and reduce transmission, I am delighted that theater owners have decided to implement these group guarantees in all of our Broadway homes,” he said. said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “A uniform policy across all Broadway theaters in New York makes things easier for our audiences and should give our guests even more confidence in the seriousness with which Broadway takes public safety.”

Children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccines as well as “people with a medical condition or intimate religious beliefs that prevent vaccination” may present proof of a COVID-19 PCR test negative made within 72 hours of performance, Broadway League added.

Ticket holders for shows until October 31, 2021 will soon be notified by venue owners; the group can review and possibly relax policies “if science requires”.

The highly transmissible delta variant, now the dominant strain in New York City, is contributing to the nationwide increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations. Hospitalizations, studies show, are almost entirely made up of unvaccinated Americans.

More and more companies are reviewing their return to work plans; The New York Times said on Friday it would delay his return to the office originally scheduled for September and also require all employees working voluntarily in the office to be vaccinated.

Influential restaurateur Danny Meyer said on Thursday that all customers and staff at his restaurants in New York and Washington, DC should be vaccinated. In an interview with the Washington Post, Meyer stressed that restaurants don’t want to go back to blockages and capacity restrictions, “Restaurants are the biggest employer in the country – they have a huge economic impact – and we just can’t not go back. . “

Same goes for theater owners: Nick Sandalios of the Nederlander Organization — shows in his theaters include Bad, The Lion King, SIX, and Tina—said, “With these procedures in place and recognizing the high vaccination rates among New York audiences, Broadway continues to make safety our priority. As we prepare for Broadway’s big comeback, the entire theater community s “Committed to upholding the highest level of public health standards. We all look forward to welcoming our many customers and fans into the magic of Broadway.”