By Greg Evans:

The reopening of Broadway theaters should not come without as much consideration for actors’ safety as for that of audiences, Actors’ Equity Association made clear today in a presentation by union officials and their public health safety consultant Dr. David Michaels.… The union’s four principles for reopening – a first step in developing more detailed protocols for theaters to follow – include:

• The epidemic must be under control, with effective testing, few new cases in the area and contact tracing;

• Individuals who may be infectious can be readily identified and isolated, with frequent, regular and accurate testing with speedy results;

• The way we audition, rehearse, perform and stage manage may need to change and the venues we work in may need to undergo changes in order to reduce the risk;

• Efforts to control COVID-19 exposure must be collaborative, involving Equity members, employers, the union and all others involved in the production of theatre. There must be collective buy-in and ongoing evaluation and improvement of health and safety practices. 

“These four principles are the foundation for our continued work with Dr. Michaels,” said Mary McColl, executive director of Actors’ Equity. “We intend to build out protocols that can be used by our employers and all of our colleagues to insure that everyone who works in the theatre has the safest workplace possible.”

Source: Deadline