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September 1, 2021

Goodspeed Musicals moves forward with fall performance, requiring vaccination and masks

Photo | Goodspeed Opera House Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam.
By Sean Teehan

East Haddam's Goodspeed Musicals is moving forward with its fall musical, requiring audience members to show proof of vaccination and wear masks through the show's two-month run.

Goodspeed's Sept. 24 opening of "A Grand Night for Singing: A Celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein" will mark the playhouse's first live, in-person performance back in the Goodspeed Opera House on 6 Main St. 

Starting last summer, the company worked to engage its fans by staging concerts and other programs on the opera house lawn. This year, Goodspeed purchased a 40-by-100-foot tent and ramped up the outdoor productions to strong attendance. Announcing the indoors fall musical, Goodspeed said COVID vaccination and mask protocols would last at least until the end of 2021.

"Entry will be denied to patrons who do not provide the documentation as required," the company said. "Masks are required at all times while inside The Goodspeed, regardless of vaccination status except when drinking in the bar area or outside areas."

Goodspeed added that people who are exempted from taking vaccines should clear that with staff before the day of the performance, and must show a negative COVID-19 test result from within 72 hours of the performance. Children under 12 may not attend at this time, because they are unable to get vaccinated.

The vaccine and mask requirement for audience members follows similar moves by other performance venues and companies in neighboring states. 

Fourteen theater companies in Greater Boston -- including the American Repertory Theater -- last month said they will require audience members to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 result, according to WBUR. Owners and operators of Broadway theaters in New York are also mandating vaccines, the New York Times reported.

The show will feature several Broadway and off-Broadway performers, and will consist of songs by legendary Broadway writing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II from musicals like "Oklahoma!," "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music."

Goodspeed's "A Grand Night for Singing: A Celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein" is scheduled to run from Sept. 24 through Nov. 28.

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