Many Broadway Theaters To Drop Vaccine Mandate In May.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:04pm

But not mask mandates. The exact OPPOSITE of what people wanted.

Updated On: 4/15/22 at 01:04 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:07pm

We’re still in a Covid surge here in NYC. Right??

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:09pm

Right from the article 

"Dropping vaccination verification will save producers money: Paying workers to check proof of vaccination has been one of several Covid safety measures that have driven up running costs for Broadway shows."

Surge or not follow the money. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:11pm

I guess we’ll find out soon enough, if this is going to lead to more cases and more show closings.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:13pm

Yeah, I feel like they got this backwards. I find it hard to believe that most people who have thus far chosen to go unvaccinated are going to be willing to wear a mask for the duration of their show without causing a fuss.

All this is going to do is create more stress on the already overworked FOH and Covid teams (if they indeed plan on keeping any of the 'Mask Up' people that have been present throughout performances of shows like Company).

[bwayplays]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:13pm

Never mind. Question answered!

Updated On: 4/15/22 at 01:13 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:15pm

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:18pm

As a nurse, I’m facepalming so hard right now.

Especially because we just had Paradise Square, Macbeth, and A Strange Loop go down due to COVID cases, and most of the cast of Company get knocked out (but didn’t close).

[bwayplays]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:23pm

What I want to know is for those who are ONLY going to theatre with mandates in place (both vaccine and masks), what do you do once one or both are lifted. Vaccine checks are gone in May, but masks remain for now. And as always can continue wearing masks even after the mandate is lifted. But does the lifting of mandates change your theatre going? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:23pm

Will they be dictating which type of mask must be worn? Because cloth masks don’t do anything anymore, the CDC says so if they’re allowing unvaxxed people in with masks that don’t stop the spread (and I find it hard to believe the unvaxxed will be coming with K95 or N95s) what exactly is the point to having ANY mandates. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:25pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Will they be dictating which type of mask must be worn? Because cloth masks don’t do anything anymore, the CDC says so if they’re allowing unvaxxed people in with masks that don’t stop the spread (and I find it hard to believe the unvaxxed will be coming with K95 or N95s) what exactly is the point to having ANY mandates."

I still feel fine with surgical masks, but I'd also be okay if I had to wear an N95 inside a theatre.

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:26pm

Even right now people who are not vaccinated are allowed inside the theater as long as they get a recent covid neg test result (within 6 hours of curtain)

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:27pm

bwayplays said: "What I want to know is for those who are ONLY going to theatre with mandates in place (both vaccine and masks), what do you do once one or both are lifted. Vaccine checks are gone in May, but masks remain for now. And as always can continue wearing masks even after the mandate is lifted. But does the lifting of mandates change your theatre going?"

No, I look forward to seeing people's faces again. I'm healthy and triple vaxxed. This just makes me look forward to it more. 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:30pm

I agree this seems bone-headed (although I think the mask requirement remains very important). I'll remain temporarily optimistic that most shows I have any interest in seeing will maintain the vax requirement. I continue to believe that eliminating the requirement will reduce attendance for non-tourist type shows and I also believe the smarter producers will not be stupid. I also note that I have been saying that we would see individual rather than collective decision-making as the next step for a long time, and this seems inevitable because of the lack of a consensus. 

[bwayplays]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:30pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Will they be dictating which type of mask must be worn? Because cloth masks don’t do anything anymore, the CDC says so if they’re allowing unvaxxed people in with masks that don’t stop the spread (and I find it hard to believe the unvaxxed will be coming with K95 or N95s) what exactly is the point to having ANY mandates."

Won’t happen. Like stated above, this is only going to make the lives of the covid safety and FOH staff more miserable. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:31pm

Do we know yet which theatre owners will keep their vax requirements? 

[brenway]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:33pm

They mind as well drop the mask requirement too, this makes zero sense. Not understanding the "science" they are following by dropping the vaccine mandate but keeping masks?

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:33pm

Lavieboheme3090 said: "Right from the article

"Dropping vaccination verification will save producers money: Paying workers to check proof of vaccination has been one of several Covid safety measures that have driven up running costs for Broadway shows."

Surge or not follow the money."

I don't know how much they pay the covid safety folks but I'd presume it would be $15-$20/hr (remember NYC minimum wage is $15/hr.) For 2 hours of checking vaccination cards, that would be $30-$40 per person per performance. If there are 4 of them each shift, that's still under $200 per performance. For shows that gross over $1 million each week, that $200 expense to check vaccine cards is almost nothing.

Unless... do they pay the covid safety folks a lot more money to the point where it really would drive up running cost significantly?

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:33pm

Yeah, this seems so backwards. Obviously the vaccine requirements haven’t kept people away from the theatres, whereas many people have expressed disinterest in being masked for 2+ hours. I feel bad for the staff who will have to keep telling people to keep their masks on and over their noses. I was at Chicago last night and so many people were being babies about it. I have usher friends and they all find it extremely frustrating. Plus the fact that they still sell drinks and allow you to lower your mask to enjoy them sends a confusing message. We’ll see if cases go up, I guess. Feels like a stupid and unnecessary  gamble. They should at least require people to show a negative test in lieu of proof of vaccination.

[bwayplays]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:35pm

JBroadway said: "Do we know yet which theatre owners will keep their vax requirements?"

“Theatregoers should consult the show website or point of purchase for information about proof of vaccination requirements for the Broadway show (or shows) they will be attending.”

However, my guess is all of them will drop it. It will be VERY confusing and cause issues if some have it and others don’t. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:37pm

I wish the preshow announcement would be more forceful, like

“Hello and welcome to Funny Girl. When you purchased your tickets and entered the building you entered into an agreement that you would keep your mask on covering your nose and your mouth. Please abide by that or unfortunately you will be escorted out of the theater, for the safety of those around you and the performers on stage.”

[bwayplays]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:43pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I wish the preshow announcement would be more forceful, like

“Hello and welcome to Funny Girl. When you purchased your tickets and entered the building you entered into an agreement that you would keep your mask on covering your nose and your mouth. Please abide by that or unfortunately you will be escorted out of the theater, for the safety of those around you and the performers on stage.”"

Just flew twice this week. Both airports had an announcement at the top of the hour to wear the mask because it’s a federal order. Both airlines had a pre departure announcement but that’s it. Wasn’t enforced at all even with an announcement. 

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:47pm

Jordan Catalano said: "But not mask mandates. The exact OPPOSITE of what people wanted. "

Ugh, exactly. I’ll wear a mask in a theatre as long as I have to, but the second the mandate is dropped, it’s coming off for me. More than happy to prove vaccine status for ages to come though. I’ve seen multiple shows (Broadway and otherwise) since reopening and masked at every one, but I eagerly await the day that I can sit in a theatre and breathe completely normally. 
 

If they are keeping the mask mandate, I am curious though as to why they aren’t keeping the vaccine one. At this point if people haven’t gotten vaccinated, they honestly probably won’t just to see a show. And there’s already exemptions for medical reasons. Getting vaccinated is a 1-2 time thing (3 or 4 maybe if you count boosters), so just showing a card at the door of the theatre shouldn’t be a hassle. Whereas I know there’s many people who have protested (or flat out refused) the mask mandates. 
 

I have no plans to see anything on Broadway between now and the end of May, so just crossing my fingers the mask mandate can be lifted by when I hope to catch a show this summer. 

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:54pm

This is actually exactly what many of us wanted. Happy to have everyone wearing a mask through the end of the season. If you. don't want to go, don't go.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 1:56pm

bwayplays said: "What I want to know is for those who are ONLY going to theatre with mandates in place (both vaccine and masks), what do you do once one or both are lifted. Vaccine checks are gone in May, but masks remain for now. And as always can continue wearing masks even after the mandate is lifted. But does the lifting of mandates change your theatre going?"

Yes. Looks like I only have two weeks left to get some shows in.