Many Broadway Theaters To Drop Vaccine Mandate In May. — Page 6

angoradebs said: "Mark_E said: "Interesting. I've done 26 across Broadway/Off-Broadway and the majority seem to be either cloth/home-made fabric masks or blue/black surgical masks, not the more intrusive KN95 masks."

Intrusive? How exactly do you think KN95s are worn?"

I find the KF94s to be the ideal choice. More comfortable and look better than N95s/KN95s, but offer an equivalent level of protection. (More than cloth ones).

Updated On: 4/17/22 at 05:26 PM

I think the decision to lift the vaccine mandates before the mask mandates is the right one. As others here have said, being vaccinated doesn’t prevent people getting covid, it just gives you more protection against getting a severe bout of covid. A lot of my friends and fam (I’m in the UK right now) have gotten covid in the past few months despite being a double vaxed and boosted (as I am), and none of them had severe symptoms - just like a bad cold or at worse the flu. Masks, however, at least offer some protection from spreading the virus and in a packed theater maybe it’s worth keeping the mandate in place during a surge, like is happening right now. I’d personally be happy to see the mask requirements go too but can understand why they’re staying in place.

I also personally think too many people are still treating covid like they did at the beginning of the outbreak 2 years ago, rather than treating it as it actually is now, which is pretty much like the flu. The latest omicron variant is the mildest yet. Of course I understand people still being cautious but we’re not going to eliminate the virus, and with the vaccines, better treatments, milder variant, the risk of getting super sick is now very low, especially for vaccinated people.

Updated On: 4/17/22 at 06:43 PM

kwoc91 said: "It's getting to the point where theaters are among the only places in NYC where masks are required.

A federal judge just struck down the federal mandate in public transportation and airports. An extremely unqualified judge who should never have been confirmed, but a federal judge nonetheless. I'm sure the decision will be appealed, but if the government could choose not to extend the mandate past the end of April. If that happens, there will be even fewer places in the city that require a mask, and I suspect lots of people will not carry one around anymore (myself included). Mask compliance on the MTA is already decreasing by the day and they are technically still required.

I am an avid theatergoer and will comply with a mask mandate as long as it is required, but I suspect the theaters will need a lot of spare masks on hand as an increasing number of people will forget to bring one with them."

This was a low-level federal judge who was deemed "not qualified" by the American Bar Association when appointed. There's no chance this decision won't be stayed or overturned by tomorrow.

kwoc91 said: "pagereynolds - I covered both of your comments in my original post. The point still stands that there are many forces at work trying to get rid of these mandates whether you and I agree with them or not."

One random judge who is going to get overturned doesn't really point in that direction at all.

I’m surprised no one mentioned that the federal mask mandate has been ruled unlawful and most transportation agencies have lifted the mask requirement for travel. This makes it even harder for Broadway theatres to enforce a mask mandate. And leaving Broadway theatres one of the only agencies left to have a mask mandate in place.

pagereynolds said: "Broadway theaters are privately owned. The owners can enforce whatever they wish."

I know they’re privately owned. My point is the FOH staff may be met with noncompliance and issues from patrons when trying to enforce a mask mandate.

Dylan Smith4 said: "I just think they should keep the vax requirement indefinitely and drop the mask mandate to optional. That's just my opinion."

Vaccinated people transmit COVID just as well as unvaccinated people.

Dylan Smith4 said: "I just think they should keep the vax requirement indefinitely and drop the mask mandate to optional. That's just my opinion."

LOL This is an insane notion...

We have to let our personal fear go, keeping in mind what's best for the whole.

The vax mandate needs to lift for the business of Broadway to grow. Too many shows are still doing poorly; it's obvious the papering is at an all-time high. (I have NEVER seen so many shows for free in my life, some I've been invited back to and have given tickets away, MULTIPLE times). This is unsustainable, and I suspect the vax mandate is a huge culprit.

I love Broadway/the Theater Industry. I have a lot of friends who work in it. I aspire to create for the space one day. Keeping the vax mandate in place indefinitely will continue to affect the bottom line, period.

Also, in my honest opinion — but also from clear observation — the vax mandate is just a measure put in place to give patrons a false sense of safety. Too many "breakthrough" cases of COVID have popped up for anyone to truly believe the vax is truly effective. Anyone who still believes this is delusional — but I get it, we're all traumatized.

pagereynolds said: "Vaccinated people transmit COVID just as well as unvaccinated people."

Please stop posting information. That is not true. Yes, they can transmit, but there is a lot less to transmit. Hence, vaccinated people are not getting sick the way the idiots are.

OffOnBwayHi - I just messaged you!

OffOnBwayHi said: "pagereynolds said: "OffOnBwayHi said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "I just think they should keep the vax requirement indefinitely and drop the mask mandate to optional. That's just my opinion."

LOL This is an insane notion...

We have to let our personal fear go, keeping in mind what's best for the whole.

The vax mandate needs to lift for the business of Broadway to grow. Too many shows are still doing poorly; it's obvious the papering is at an all-time high. (I have NEVER seen so many shows for free in my life, some I've been invited back to and have given tickets away, MULTIPLE times). This is unsustainable, and I suspect the vax mandate is a huge culprit.

I love Broadway/the Theater Industry. I have a lot of friends who work in it. I aspire to create for the space one day. Keeping the vax mandate in place indefinitely will continue to affect the bottom line, period.

Also, in my honest opinion — but also from clear observation — the vax mandate is just a measure put in place to give patrons a false sense of safety. Too many "breakthrough" cases of COVID have popped up for anyone to truly believe the vax is truly effective. Anyone who still believes this is delusional — but I get it, we're all traumatized."

Which shows are doing poorly? The vast majority are running between 80% and 100%. There were two shows under 60% last week."

The houses are papered and discounted dramatically, luv."

You seem not to understand that the grosses already reflect that. There are no shows that are doing poorly that would be doing any better without a mask mandate.

A lot of voters will be catching up on shows in May, and out-of-towners will be spending a week+ in NYC to see the nominees. Voters do not see shows in previews (nominators attend on press nights).