Pacific Northwest Ballet and other Seattle-area performance groups — including ACT-A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Rep, The Fifth Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre and more — are now requiring patrons wear masks and show proof of vaccinations or negative COVID-19 testing to attend upcoming live performances.
Like other organizations, PNB patrons will be required to provide proof of vaccination, a valid ticket to the performance and photo ID upon entering Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center.
PNB patrons must be able to show proof that they are fully vaccinated at the time of their entry into the theater. A person is considered fully vaccinated at least 14 days passed since receiving either the second dose of FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccines.
Patrons unable to be vaccinated because of age, medical condition or religious belief must provide results of either a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of their ticketed performance or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 24 hours of their ticketed performance.
Masks will also be required for all audience members at all times except while eating or drinking.
Patrons should check the requirements of any performing arts facility when buying tickets.
“The safety of PNB’s artists, staff, and audiences continues to be our first priority,” Executive Director Ellen Walker said in a press release.
“PNB’s artists and crew have been filming safely in-person since March 2020, and we are thrilled to evolve our safety plans to include in-person audiences. Multiple surveys confirm that our ticket-buyers overwhelmingly want to return to McCaw Hall, but with as many health and safety protocols in place as possible.”
PNB’s mask and vaccination mandates will be in place for its return to performances in McCaw Hall during its upcoming Rep 1 (Sept. 24 – 26) and Rep 2 (Nov. 5 – 7).
Additional safety features at McCaw Hall include top-of-the-line MERV 13 filters and running 100 percent fresh air circulation for all events.
Attendance numbers will follow state and CDC guidelines for large indoor events. Capacity will be limited and social distancing measures will be taken in seating.
Safety precautions for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and performances in 2022 will be announced soon and will continue to evolve over time in direct response to the pandemic.
For updates and additional information regarding PNB’s efforts to make the return to McCaw Hall as safe as possible for audiences, dancers and staff, visit PNB.org and click on “Health & Safety.”