Group Of More Than 70 Performing Arts Venues Requires Vaccine Or Negative Tests

CHICAGO — Audience members at dozens of Chicagoland theaters will have to begin showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative coronavirus test results starting next week.

A coalition of more than 70 performing arts venues in Chicago and the suburban area announced it had adopted unified COVID-19 policies that will also apply to crew, staff and performers.

Deb Clapp, executive director of the League of Chicago Theaters, said that not all the organization's more than 200 member theaters will be able to open in the fall.

"We are pleased that many members of our vibrant performing arts community that will be opening have come together to craft a unified response to this crisis so that audiences can once again experience the joy of live performance without future disruption,” Clapp said in a statement.

Specific safety protocols may differ from venue to venue, according to the League. Among those that allow negative tests in lieu of proof of full vaccination, PCR tests taken within 72 hours of the performance's start time or antigen rapid tests taken within six hours of the start time will be accepted.

“We are immensely grateful to our audiences to have been with us every step of the way during the last year. Now, as we prepare to welcome our community back, we must do so thoughtfully and responsibly, with measures in place that take into account the health, comfort and safety of everyone," said Kate Lipuma, executive director of Writers Theatre in Glencoe, one of the coalition partners.

"We want to reopen, but as an industry that was hit so hard by this pandemic, our futures will be determined by our ability to stay open," she added. "And this is just the right thing to do — for our staffs, artists and of course, our patrons.”

Related: These Chicago Area Venues Now Require Proof Of Vaccination

Creative industries in Chicago supported more than 81,000 jobs and delivered $336.5 million in state and local government revenue before the pandemic, according to Lou Raizin, president of Broadway in Chicago.

“The theatre community was the first to close and the last to reopen and this has been a tremendous loss for the City of Chicago and the economic generator that the arts provide," Raizin said. "Given the necessity for theatres to open with 100% capacity our working together with fellow Chicago arts organizations has given us the opportunity to chart our way back to opening our doors and bringing our stages alive again safely.”

Related: COVID-19 Vaccines Or Negative Test Required At United Center

Timothy Evans, executive director of Northlight Theatre, said his theater was committed to making every effort possible to ensure the safety of those involved in its performances.

"We are proud to work collectively with our Chicago theatre colleagues so that our industry and our audiences can safely return to share in the communal experience that is unique to live theater,” Evans said.

The policies will be in place for all shows scheduled through December, according to the League, which encouraged patrons to check with individual venues to confirm the details of their policies.

These venues are members of the coalition that will require audiences, performers and staff to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a test showing they are not infected with the virus to attend or take part in indoor live performances:

• 16th Street Theater
• A Red Orchid Theatre
• About Face Theatre
• Aguijón Theatre
• Albany Park Theatre Project
• American Blues Theater
• Apollo Theater Chicago
• Artemesia Theatre
• The Artistic Home
• Aston Rep Theatre Company
• Athenaeum Theatre
• Auditorium Theatre
• Babes with Blades
• Black Button Eyes Productions
• Bluebird Arts
• Boho Theatre
• Brightside Theatre
• Broadway In Chicago
• Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble
• Chicago Humanities Festival
• Chicago Latino Theater Alliance
• Chicago Magic Lounge
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association
• Chicago Youth Shakespeare
• Corn Productions
• Court Theatre
• First Floor Theatre
• First Folio Theater
• Goodman Theatre
• Greenhouse Theatre Center
• Harris Theater for Music and Dance
• Hell in a Handbag
• Her Story Theatre
• High Concept Labs
• House Theatre of Chicago
• Hubbard Street Dance
• International Voices Project
• Interrobang Theatre Project
• Jackalope Theatre
• The Joffrey Ballet
• Lookingglass Theatre Company
• Lyric Opera of Chicago
• The Marriott Theatre
• Midsommer Flight
• The Neo Futurists
• The New Coordinates
• Northlight Theatre
• Oak Park Festival Theatre
• Oil Lamp Theater
• Old Town School of Folk Music
• Paramount Theatre
• Piven Theatre Workshop
• Pivot Arts
• Playmakers Laboratory
• Porchlight Music Theatre
• Pridearts
• Promethean Theatre Ensemble
• Randolph Entertainment presents Teatro ZinZanni
• Raven Theatre
• Red Tape Theatre
• Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
• Saint Sebastian Players
• Saltbox Theatre Collective
• The Second City
• Shattered Globe Theatre
• Skokie Theatre
• Stage Left Theatre
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company
• Theatre Wit
• Three Brothers Theatre
• Timeline Theatre Company
• UrbanTheater Company
• Victory Gardens Theater
• WildClaw Theatre
• Williams Street Repertory Theatre
• Writers Theatre