Founded in 1930, as the national trade association for the Broadway industry, The Broadway League announced today that the owners and operators of all 41 Broadway theaters will require vaccinations for audience members, as well as performers, backstage crew, and theater staff, for all performances through October 2021. Masks will also be required for audiences while inside the theater, except while eating or drinking in designated locations only.
Under the updated policy, guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine in order to attend a show, and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theater, along with their valid ticket for a performance date at least fourteen days after the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Exceptions will be made for children under twelve and people with a medical condition or closely held religious belief that prevents vaccination. These guests must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time, or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within six hours of curtain time.
Theater owners and operators will begin notifying ticket holders for performances through October 31, 2021, with reminder messaging planned to ensure awareness of the new policies. For performances in November 2021 and beyond, theater owners anticipate a review of policies in September, which may include a relaxation of certain provisions, depending on the latest scientific data.
Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League, noted, “As vaccination has proven the most effective way to stay healthy and reduce transmission, I’m pleased that the theater owners have decided to implement these collective safeguards at all our Broadway houses. A uniform policy across all New York City Broadway theaters makes it simple for our audiences and should give even more confidence to our guests about how seriously Broadway is taking audience safety.”
On behalf of the theater owners, Nick Scandalios of The Nederlander Organization commented, “With these procedures in place and recognizing the high vaccination rates among NYC audiences, Broadway continues to make safety our priority. As we get ready for Broadway’s big comeback, the entire theater community is committed to the highest level of public health standards. We’re all eager to welcome our many patrons and fans back to the magic of Broadway.”
For more information, The Broadway League recommends that ticketholders visit their show’s official website or contact their point-of-purchase.
