A person had his photograph I.D. in and out his hand as walked as much as the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater on Broadway to see “Come From Away,” however nobody checked it. The households streaming in to see “The Lion King” have been instructed to have their tickets out and their masks on, however there was no point out of vaccine playing cards. And the Covid security officers in neon yellow vests who used to patrol exterior “Six” have been gone.
Most Broadway theaters stopped checking the vaccination standing of their patrons final week for the primary time since they started to reopen final summer time, easing security protocols the identical week rising coronavirus circumstances positioned New York Metropolis into the next danger degree.
The business hopes that casting off vaccine checks — which have additionally been eradicated at New York Metropolis eating places, film theaters and different venues — will make theatergoing extra engaging, and that the remaining masks mandate will assist preserve audiences secure as circumstances have risen, however hospitalizations and deaths stay low.
Whereas some patrons welcomed the change, others mentioned they felt uneasy about going into crowded theaters with out the reassurance that their seatmates have been vaccinated, and several other nonprofit Broadway theaters proceed to require proof of vaccination.
“I simply don’t really feel as secure as I’ve the previous a number of months,” mentioned Lauren Broyles, 44, an govt assistant from Hershey, Pa., who visited New York to see exhibits a number of occasions final winter however mentioned she had stopped planning a summer time theater journey after studying that Broadway dropped its vaccine mandate. “I’m ready to listen to what’s subsequent.”
However Michael Anderson, 48, of Hudson, N.Y., who was standing in line the opposite day to see “Hangmen,” mentioned he thought that whereas vaccine checks had made sense earlier, he felt they have been not crucial. “At this level, I’m vaccinated and boosted,” he mentioned.
