It will take more than a ticket to gain admittance to some live shows in parts of the country. Proof of vaccination as well as a negative COVID-19 test may be required. So far, only one local show has issued that mandate, and area theater managers say no plans are on the books to expand that to other live performances at this time.
An Aug. 4 email from the Augusta Entertainment Complex said the promoter of The Killers’ concert on Sept. 30 at the Bell Auditorium would be requiring vaccinations plus negative COVID-19 tests.
MORE: Want To See The Killers at the Bell? Better Be Vaccinated and COVID-19 Negative
Katie Cason, the complex’s director of marketing, confirmed that it was only The Killers’ concert and none of the others scheduled at the Bell or the James Brown Arena were affected.
The restriction is “only for The Killers right now,” she wrote in an Aug. 5 email.
The Killers aren’t the only performers or venues requiring the vaccines or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
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On July 31, The Broadway League announced that “the owners and operators of all 41 Broadway theaters in New York City will require vaccinations for audience members, as well as performers, backstage crew and theater staff, for all performances through October 2021,” according to its website.
Other venues such as The Kennedy Center and Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. have announced the same restrictions beginning Sept. 1. Scattered live venues as well as movie theaters have issued the same response
In the Augusta area, performances are on the books at all venues. Local theaters have COVID-19 guidelines in place. They are listed on their websites.
Charles Scavullo, the executive director of the Imperial Theatre, said its website contains a list of protocols such as greater cleaning of the facilities, mask requirements during performances and reduced seating capacity.
“We have not yet moved towards the vaccine requirement. Not as of today anyway,” he wrote in an Aug. 12 email.
Many theater operators deferred to state and city guidelines.
Vivian Johnson, the theater coordinator for Aiken Community Theatre, said the facility, which is used mainly by the Aiken Community Theatre and the Aiken Performing Arts Group, follows the city of Aiken’s lead as far as any mandates are concerned.
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At the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Etherredge Center, protocols follow the guidance issued at multiple levels including the Centers for Disease Control, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the governor’s office, said Paul Crook, the center’s executive director.
At the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, no mask or vaccine mandates are currently in place.
MORE: New Columbia County Theater Prepares To Raise the Curtain
“The health and safety of patrons, volunteers, staff and artists are at the forefront of our minds as we hold performances in the Performing Arts Center. We will continue to work with state and county leadership to determine specific protocols that might be in place at the time of the performances. Our hope and plan is to deliver all of these performances as scheduled at full capacity,” wrote Cassidy Harris, Columbia County’s public relations manager in an email.
Should a promoter require a vaccine, Harris continued in the email to say, “If a particular promoter were to come to use requiring that patrons provide proof of vaccination, we would work with that promoter on their request. This will be discussed with the promoter and county leadership on a case-by-case basis.”
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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