NEW YORK — Broadway is lifting the curtain and its mask mandate.
All 41 theaters on the Great White Way will adopt a “mask optional” policy for the month of July, the district announced Tuesday.
“Millions of people enjoyed the unique magic of Broadway by watching the 75th Tony Award Ceremony recently. Millions more have experienced Broadway LIVE in theaters in New York City and throughout the U.S., since we reopened last fall,” Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League, said in a statement.
“We’re thrilled to welcome even more of our passionate fans back to Broadway in the exciting ‘22-’23 season that has just begun.”
Theatergoers are still encouraged to mask, but will not be required to do so.
Audience members have been required to wear masks inside theaters since Broadway reopened in July and the mandate has remained in place, making it one of the last industries to do so. Most theaters lifted their vaccine mandate in late April.
NYC Health currently lists the city at high alert and advises all New Yorkers to wear a mask in any public indoor setting. Mayor Eric Adams has lifted almost all mask rules, including last month for 2- to 4-year-old children who were still not eligible for vaccines at the time.
The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Broadway, shutting down the theater district for more than a year as the virus swept through the city. Even after its reopening in July, shows have still faced delays and early shutdowns.
Just last week, “Music Man” star Hugh Jackman tested positive after the Tony Awards, during which he performed with co-star Sutton Foster, and was forced to miss several shows. Beanie Feldstein also missed a week of “Funny Girl” performances.
The Broadway League’s mask rules are now in place through the end of July and will be reevaluated next month.
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