The protocols will be in effect for performances Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.<\/b>
\nIf you plan on attending live theater performances in and around the Chicago area in the months ahead, you\u2019ll need to adhere to strict new COVID-19 safety protocols announced Tuesday by the League of Chicago Theatres. A growing coalition of the area\u2019s performing arts venues and producers will require audience members to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID test results to gain entry to participating theaters. The protocols will be in effect Sept.1 through Dec.31. In addition, masks must be worn at all times throughout the performances and throughout the venues. Other restrictions may be in place for those venues offering refreshments. Protocols may vary slightly by venue, so patrons are asked to check a theater\u2019s website prior to ticket purchase or arriving. The new guidelines also apply to all performers, staff and crew at each participating theater. \u201cThe health and safety of our patrons is our main concern. The theatre community was the first to close and the last to reopen and this has been a tremendous loss for the city of Chicago and the economic generator that the arts provide,\u201d said Broadway In Chicago president, Lou Raizin, in Tuesday\u2019s announcement. \u201cOn an annual basis, pre-pandemic Chicago\u2019s creative industries produced more than $17.6 billion in economic output, supported 81,300 jobs and generated more than $4.8 billion in household earnings \u2014 delivering $336.5 million in local and state government revenue. Given the necessity for theaters to open with 100% capacity our working together with fellow Chicago arts organizations has given us the opportunity to chart our way back to opening our doors and bringing our stages alive again safely.\u201d According to the official announcement, \u201cfully vaccinated\u201d means the performance date \u201cmust be at least 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or at least 14 days after a single-dose vaccine. Attendees can also provide proof of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time, or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time.\u201d Accommodations will be made for children under 12, people with a medical condition or for religious beliefs. \u201cThe arts and cultural community is embedded in the fabric of Chicago,\u201d said League executive director Deb Clapp. \u201cNot all of the League\u2019s more than 200 member theaters will be able to open this fall. We are pleased that many members of our vibrant performing arts community that will be opening have come together to craft a unified response to this crisis so that audiences can once again experience the joy of live performance without future disruption.\u201d In July, New York\u2019s Broadway League announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and masks for all of its member theaters. In Chicago, the Goodman Theatre re-opened its production of \u201cSchool Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play\u201d earlier this month with reduced seating capacity and a mandatory masking policy for its audiences. \u201cWhile all of us at The Second City love to improvise, this is one time when we\u2019re all in agreement to commit to the script: get vaccinated…and keep our casts, staff, and patrons safe,\u201d said Parisa Jalili, CEO of The Second City. Currently, the roster of theater companies (according to Tuesday\u2019s announcement) adhering to these new safety protocols includes:<\/p>\n