Broadway will not yet be lifting its mask and vaccination requirements for patrons, despite the city easing vaccination rules, the Broadway League said Friday.
The current Broadway mandate, which requires proof of vaccination and mask wearing from theatergoers, will remain in place through at least April.
“Our current guidance is through April 30 and we are scheduled to update that guidance on April 1. Discussions are held weekly on our protocols and at this point, there is no change to our guidance. We will, of course, let you know when it changes,” the Broadway League said in a statement to Broadway News.
The statement comes after Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday that the city will end its Key to NYC program on Monday. The program had mandated that patrons aged 5 or older show proof of full vaccination to attend indoor theater and concert venues, as well as to dine indoors or participate in indoor fitness activities.
Asked about how this will impact Broadway, Adams said in his press conference that requiring masks and proof of vaccination remains up to the individual business.
“We are recommending if you’re in a large setting to wear masks, but Broadway will make a determination, and we’ll respect that. But we’re lifting our mandates that are in place,” Adams said Friday.
Broadway announced a mask and vaccination policy on July 30, 2021, ahead of the city’s Key-to-NYC mandate. The policy has been periodically renewed throughout the season, with the latest renewal announced on Jan. 10. The Broadway League reiterated its commitment to the policy in early February, when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the lifting of the statewide mask-or-vaccine mandate.
In place of the Key to NYC program, the city announced the institution of COVID-19 alert levels, which provide the public with risk mitigation techniques and offer the possibility of harsher city mandates, depending on the level of community transmission and hospital capacities. New York City is currently at the lowest alert level, but if it rises to the next level, the city may consider bringing back the Key to NYC vaccination requirements.
