Beginning July 1, the masking requirement for audiences on Broadway will no longer be in effect.
The decision was made by the Broadway League, the industry’s trade association, which will make a monthly reassessment to determine whether or not masks or other precautions are necessary.
While stageplay theaters will no longer require masking starting next week, they will still encourage audiences to mask up.
“It’s not something we take lightly,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, speaking with the Wall Street Journal.
St. Martin explained that he and other theater owners had weekly meetings with epidemiologists and reviewed data from local hospitals before deciding to do away with the mask mandate.
Broadway closed down when New York City and state authorities began placing restrictions on public venues due to the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020.
The theaters stayed closed for a year and a half because of the pandemic before reopening at full capacity in September 2021.
Before this upcoming change in masking policy, each of Broadway’s 41 New York City theaters also had a proof-of-vaccination requirement. However, the Broadway League dropped its vaccine checks for audience members on April 30, around the same time other facilities started loosening their restrictions.
St. Martin said, “Millions of people enjoyed the unique magic of Broadway by watching the 75th Tony Award Ceremony recently. Millions more have experienced Broadway LIVE in theatres in New York City and throughout the U.S. since we reopened last fall. We’re thrilled to welcome even more of our passionate fans back to Broadway in the exciting 22-23 season that has just begun.”
Roughly 240,000 attendees visited Broadway theaters during the week ending June 12.
Midway through July, the Broadway League plans on announcing its protocols for attendance in August attendance.
