Broadway to require COVID-19 vaccination proof, masks for theatregoers

Broadway theatregoers will need to prove they've been vaccinated for COVID-19 and masks will be required when theatres reopen in the coming weeks, producers announced Friday.

Audience members will have to wear face coverings and show proof they are fully vaccinated by vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization when they enter the theatres in New York City, the Broadway League said in a news release.

"Get vaccinated, and we'll see you in the fall," 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."

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.

"This is what we have as a community on Broadway decided, and then we're going to re-evaluate it in October. It's still fluid," Bonnie Comley, president of the Drama League, told The Associated Press. "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, practise 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 country.

Bruce Springsteen's one-man show is the only performance currently running on Broadway. Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Pass Overis 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 Oct. 31 will be notified of the vaccination policy, Broadway League officials said. For performances in November and beyond, the theatre operators will review the policy and makechanges 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.