The reopenings continue!
After large arenas and stadiums (with capacity for over 10,000 people, like MSG & Barclays Center) in NY reopened at 10% capacity last week, Governor Cuomo announced that smaller theaters and performance venues can reopen at 33% capacity on April 2.
This includes a maximum of 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. Still, if all attendees have proof of a negative test, capacity can be raised to 150 people indoors and up to 500 people outdoors. Of course, social distancing and face coverings are required, as well as other state Department of Health guidelines.
That could mean small theaters, comedy clubs, live music venues, and even iconic locations like Lincoln Center (which already has a huge outdoor performance program planned) and Radio City Music Hall could be back up and running this spring.
But what about Broadway? The Broadway League’s statement on their website still says that theaters will remain closed through May 30, but they did provide a more updated communication to CBS2 saying:
We are delighted that fans will once again be able to experience live performance events through PopsUp. While Broadway productions are not able to return just yet, we’re glad that arts venues, including select Broadway theatres, will be able to open their doors and give the public a taste of what we’ve all been missing so much through these dark months.
At the same time, the Governor said that visitors to NY who have been vaccinated will not be required to quarantine, and that starting March 22, people can hold gatherings of up to 25 people outdoors at their homes (indoor gatherings can still only be up to 10 people). For non-residential gatherings, up to 100 people can be hosted indoors and up to 200 people outdoors.
featured image source: Unsplash