The state of California recently released new health and safety guidelines, which will allow live theaters, sports stadiums, concerts, and other live performance venues to reopen at limited capacity beginning April 15. The guidelines will allow venues to reopen at 10% to 50% capacity, depending on a number of factors. California also released guidelines on safety measures for performers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also announced a plan to reopen California’s economy completely by June 15 if the vaccination efforts continue apace, and hospitalizations remain low.
“We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” said Newsom in a statement. “We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here—wearing masks and getting vaccinated—but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”
For now, under these new reopening guidelines, performance venues can reopen if the COVID-19 infection rate in their county is lower than 8%. California has placed its counties in four different tiers, with Tier 1 representing widespread infections with a positivity rate of over 8%, while Tier 4 represents a minimal positivity rate of under 2%. Venues in Tier 2 through 4 can reopen with capacity limits.
Tier 2 indoor venues with capacity of up to 1,500 can reopen with a maximum of 10% capacity or at most 100 people; they can reopen at 25% if all guests are tested or show proof of vaccinations. Venues of 1,501 or above can reopen at 20% if all guests are tested or show proof of vaccination.
Tier 3 indoor venues with capacity of up to 1,500 can reopen with a maximum of 15% capacity or 200 people; they can reopen at 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of vaccinations. Venues of 1,501 or above can reopen at 10%; they can reopen at 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of vaccination.
Tier 4 indoor venues with capacity of up to 1,500 can reopen with a maximum of 25% capacity or 300 people; they can reopen at 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of vaccinations. Venues of 1,501 or above can reopen at 10%; they can reopen at 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of vaccination.
Venues are also required to maintain six feet of distance between parties. Audience members can only eat in pre-designated eating areas, with no eating or drinking allowed in seats.
California also released industry guidelines for live venues looking to reopen. It includes recommendations for performers. Audience members and most workers must wear masks, but performers are not required to wear face coverings when they are performing.
The guidelines say, “Use precautions when performing in large groups or ensembles and evaluate the necessity of such activity on a case-by-case basis. Background players, stand-ins, and other non-essential performers on set should not linger in crowded holding areas unnecessarily. Holding/offstage areas should be sufficiently large to ensure adequate spacing between performers, backstage workers, etc.”
It also recommends performers, including musical ones, rehearse outdoors. Producers should test performers on at least a weekly basis, and maintain “physical distance between those without face coverings and others to at least six feet.”
For casting, the new guidelines also encourage remote casting sessions. And if performers need to show up, they should wait in their cars instead of in a casting office. The guidelines also contain recommendations for backstage crew, such as set builders and costumers. The complete guidelines can be read here.