Hot Topics – Masking in the Audience

Hot Topics sessions are timely moderated conversations on pressing topics that have emerged from the PACT membership. They are an opportunity to share a variety of perspectives, learn from our experiences, and think together about ways forward.

In our fall survey about ticket sales trends, several companies identified a challenge around pandemic health protections such as masking: some audience members say they won’t buy a ticket if masking is mandatory, while others won’t buy a ticket unless masking is mandatory. With public health officials seemingly reluctant to reintroduce mask mandates this winter, how do we provide access to those not attending large unmasked gatherings indoors?

This conversation will focus on the experiences of companies that have kept some form of mandatory masking for audience members, whether for selected performances or entire runs. We’ll talk about different models for offering masked performances, the challenge of communicating policies to ticket buyers, and the ups and downs of the response from audience members.

Open to members and non-members, this session will be of particular interest to theatre leaders and those working in public-facing roles such as marketing or patron services. The group size will be limited to ensure opportunities for engagement and participation.