Face mask and proof of vaccine required for audience members when New York's Broadway reopens

Theatergoers must have proof of their Covid-19 vaccination and a face mask to attend shows when Broadway reopening in the coming weeks.

Producers in the New York theatre district have said the restrictions will remain in place until at least October.

Cases of coronavirus are rising once more in the US, with some restrictions, including mask wearing, brought back in to curb the growth in infections.

“Get vaccinated, and we’ll see you in the fall (autumn),” tweeted Broadway and TV star Jeremy Jordan.

Composer Jason Robert Brown also agreed with the move: “That’s right. That’s where we’re at.”

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There will be exceptions to the vaccine rule for children under 12, who are not yet eligible for any of the approved shots, and for people with a medical condition or religious belief that prevents vaccination, the theatre operators said.

Those individuals will need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

Masks are required for the audience except while eating or drinking in designated locations.

The Broadway League said theatre owners anticipate a review of the safety policies in September and may include a relaxation of certain provisions if the science dictates after October.

“This is what we have as a community on Broadway decided and then we’re going to reevaluate it in October," the group said.

“It’s still fluid,” Bonnie Comley, board president of The Drama League, said.

“This should be a positive thing.

“All these different unions that don’t always agree have come together to be able to do this before people come into the theatre.”

The move comes a day after Actors’ Equity Association, the union which represents nearly 52,000 actors and stage managers, said it would require cast and crew members to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Company members who are not vaccinated, including those under the age of 12, must continue to wear masks, practice physical distancing when possible and undergo testing at least twice a week.

The protocols apply to both Broadway productions and Equity-backed shows across the nation.

Bruce Springsteen’s one-man show is the only performance currently running on Broadway.

Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s Pass Over is set to open Wednesday at the August Wilson Theatre.

Most other theatres will open in September or October after being shuttered since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020.

Ticket holders for performances scheduled through October 31 will be notified of the vaccination policy, Broadway League officials said.

For performances in November 2021 and beyond, the theatre operators will review the policy and made changes if science dictates, they said.

“As vaccination has proven the most effective way to stay healthy and reduce transmission, I’m pleased that the theatre owners have decided to implement these collective safeguards at all our Broadway houses,” Broadway League President Charlotte St Martin said in a statement.