The Park City Institute announced Thursday new mask requirements for people attending performances at the Eccles Center for the remainder of the summer season.
Thursday’s announcement applies to all of Park City Institute's remaining summer shows, including this Saturday’s Evening with Stephanie Land and remaining dates for the chamber music series.
Executive Director Ari Ioannides said that in response to the rising Delta variant of COVID-19, patrons must arrive at the theatre wearing their masks and keep them on until they are seated. Masks will be required to be on whenever people leave their seats.
Ioannides said the institute will also continue its socially-distanced seating policy, which requires a buffer between unrelated groups of people at the theatre.
“We think that extra layer of protection is not too much, but also at the same time, it does make people feel a little more at ease I think, and also helps us maintain the health and safety of patrons, artists, and staff members,” he said.
PCI theatre staff are required to be vaccinated and also wear masks at all times. Ioannides said he and his staff will continue to evaluate their policies going forward into the fall and winter.
Park City Film is currently in the middle of its virtual cinema and twilight drive-in programs, but will return to in-person screenings at the Santy Auditorium in September.
Park City Film’s Executive Director Katy Wang said the same health measures that were in place when in-person screenings began in April will be back, with a few slight changes.
“We are going to require for all of our staff and all of our volunteers that they be vaccinated,” Wang said. “We are slightly increasing our capacity. In the spring, we were operating at 14% capacity, which is about 84 seats. We’ve decided to open up some more seats at 50% capacity, and that would allow for a two-to-three seat buffer between unrelated groups. Masks will be required for all patrons without exception. That is what we had in place in the spring, we will continue to have that in place. The only time that masks can be removed in our theatre is when you’re sitting in your seat, actively eating or drinking.”
Main Street’s iconic Egyptian Theatre is also scheduled to return to shows this month with the Park City Follies on August 27th after closing its doors in early March 2020.
Theatre Executive Director and KPCW DJ Randy Barton said this week the theatre expects to be open at full capacity for Follies. He added the theatre specifically chose the Follies as its first show because it does not draw crowds from outside the Park City area.
“If you want to wear a mask, you may, but it’s certainly not a requirement,” said Barton. “We will not be requiring proof of vaccination, and we do not feel like we’re acting irresponsibly. We are still the very last operation to open up.”
Barton told KPCW additional decisions on health measures at the theatre could be made as the show date approaches.
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