Mask Mandate to Be Separated by Seating Tiers at the 2022 Tony Awards?!

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 5:33pm

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/tony-awards-covid-require-tests-not-masks-for-nominees-at-radio-city-1235159847/

"Attendees sitting in the orchestra section of Radio City Music Hall (which is not a Broadway theater) include Tony nominees, as well as producers, theater owners and other celebrity guests. Many of the actors will take to the stage during the show, which led to the PCR testing requirement for everyone in the orchestra. Masks are optional for this section, which is likely to be heavily featured on the telecast.

Attendees sitting in the mezzanine and balcony sections of Radio City Music Hall, are required to wear a mask throughout the ceremony, but do not need to be tested."

I'm sorry, but this is THE most ridiculous and insane mask policy I've EVER heard of. Either require the entire audience to mask up (like you currently have to do in order to see any Broadway show), OR require some form of testing/vaccine check and don't make anyone in the audience mask up. But telling people that you don't have to wear a mask ONLY if you're distinguished and/or rich enough to sit in the orchestra is beyond obnoxious and beyond parody. I really cannot believe this is real.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 5:39pm

When I first read this, I thought it was an Onion article!  Just when you think TPTB can't get any dumber...

 

 

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 5:40pm

Incredibly stupid and destined to be a cluster.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:10pm

The entire orchestra section is required to be tested, hence the mask option.  There will be seat fillers for those who test positive just like a Broadway performance.  You test positive, you ain’t going to the Tony Awards, even if you’re nominated and win.  Testing will be done in advance as well, not just on Tony Award day.  My friends performing at the Tony Awards got their first COVID test today and will be tested Wednesday and Friday as well as on Sunday.  

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:10pm

Weird to say the least, but good to know as I will be attending the ceremony (and really looking forward to it).

If this means I get to see both halves of Ariana’s face, I will be pleased. Depending on how she looks that evening, she has a legitimate shot at being my Tony crush this year. 

 

 

 

[peterparker1]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:29pm

The celebs can test out and be mask free. 

But the every day folk can't. 

hmm. rules for thee and not for me

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:35pm

Not CAN test out....MUST.

 

And you will all have the better chance of not contracting covid. 

 

 

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:36pm

dramamama611 said: "Not CAN test out....MUST.

And you will all have the better chance of not contracting covid."

So then why can’t people sitting in the mezzanine and balcony get the option of testing out too? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:42pm

For the same reason the actors at whatever show you're rooting for doesn't wear them, but the audience does. The balconies and mezzanine aren't part of the show....the orchestra is.

And I'm guessing that this was some sort of compromise.

Updated On: 6/6/22 at 06:42 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 6:43pm

I would still tend to think most will wear a mask. The last thing Broadway needs is for this to turn into a super spreader event.

[UWS10023]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:09pm

Is it true that there is no mask wearing at Madison Square Garden?

[peterparker1]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:13pm

dramamama611 said: "For the same reason the actors at whatever show you're rooting for doesn't wear them, but the audience does. The balconies and mezzanine aren't part of the show....the orchestra is.

And I'm guessing that this was some sort of compromise."

Well under that logic if the orchestra is part of the show then do I need to wear a mask when I see Hadestown since Orpheus runs through the orchestra in act 2? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:16pm

Not the same thing at all....there aren't a dozen cameras televising you at Hadestown...as there is at the Tonys.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:28pm

dramamama611 said: "Not the same thing at all....there aren't a dozen cameras televising you at Hadestown...as there is at the Tonys."

So you're admitting this is all optics, right? And not rooted in science or reality.

[peterparker1]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:37pm

dramamama611 said: "Not the same thing at all....there aren't a dozen cameras televising you at Hadestown...as there is at the Tonys."

OHH I see now, so then its because of the broadcast they can go mask free. Got it. 

So then explain to me.. if this is all because of cameras and not because of seating location, then why can't those sitting in the mezz or balcony have the option to test out like those sitting in the orchestra?

If they're so worried about covid, then mandate the masks for everyone because Broadway has a mask mandate, remember? But no they won't do that because celebrities can do whatever they want, preach whatever they want, but don't follow what they preach. You wear a mask because you aren't sitting in the orchestra, but we sit in the orchestra so we don't have to wear a mask. 

Again, rules for thee but not for me. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:50pm

UWS10023 said: "Is it true that there is no mask wearing at Madison Square Garden?"

https://www.msg.com/calendar/radio-city-music-hall-june-2022-the-american-theatre-wings-75th-annual-tony-awards/3C005C94EB2112CB#about-the-event

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:53pm

Yeah this is totally because of the frequent audience shots as part of the telecast. If the audience is masked, it won’t make for good television. Also, half the point of the Tony Awards is to serve as an extended commercial for potential Broadway ticketbuyers (read: tourists). If people are masked, that doesn’t support the whole “Broadway is back” message.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 7:55pm

Agreed. I’m going to guess there wilL be VERY few shots of any audience above the orchestra. 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 8:17pm

And only the tiny cost of $266 for student tickets. 

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 9:07pm

It's not just that the orchestra is on television.  It's that the majority of people sitting there will or could literally be up on the stage during the show.  They are performers and are following strict testing protocols.  Based on the poster above they are getting tested 4 times this week.  It actually makes complete sense.  But folks love to complain!

[VotePeron]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 9:16pm

You all do realize no one watching the telecast will care that they are unmasked? Every major televised awards show this year has been unmasked. Sports arena’s and movie theaters haven’t required masks for a long time. The vast majority of the country is actively living in a non-mask world, as well as most New Yorkers except when attending a Broadway show. 

I think this is perfectly illustrates how people who work higher up in the industry even know that mask wearing is performative at this point. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 9:27pm

I never said anything about their decision being anything OTHER than optics.   

I'm just tired of everyone WHINING about EVERYTHING.  You don't like their rules (no matter what the reason) DON'T GO.  Easy peasy.   Whoever told you the world - or life = is "fair" did you a injustice.

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/7/22 at 12:32am

If people see that the audience at the Tony Awards are not wearing masks, then people will think we don't have to wear masks anymore to go see a Broadway show.

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/7/22 at 12:35am

VotePeron said: "I think this is perfectly illustrates how people who work higher up in the industry even know that mask wearing is performative at this point."

I think it's performative because there are so many cloth masks and surgical masks and with any type of mask there tends to be fussing or it's being worn incorrectly or loosely or they're selling concessions so you can take it on and off. Would it be different if everyone was wearing an N95 properly through the whole show? 

I would feel better if we could get new covid vaccines adapted to omicron but I don't know if that's still set to happen. Anyway, the only excuse I can see for not letting the upper levels test out is that it would be too much work to verify those additional negative tests and then make sure people who did not have a negative test were still wearing their masks.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/7/22 at 12:57am

Wick3 said: "If people see that the audience at the Tony Awards are not wearing masks, then people will think we don't have to wear masks anymore to go see a Broadway show.”

I suspect that the producers have no problem with that…the ol’ bait and switch.

Also, as another poster said, the majority of Americans have more or less moved on with their lives when it comes to COVID, and mask wearing has become a bit performative. Having people taking off their masks when they go onstage to perform a song or present or accept an an award would really only emphasize that. I think they are making the right move by simply focusing more on testing.