Spiking coronavirus cases are prompting St. Louis arts leaders to pause live shows
The spiking number of coronavirus cases in the St. Louis region is leading some local arts organizations to postpone or cancel events scheduled for this month.
Arts leaders said Wednesday they are concerned that their existing safety protocols, including a requirement that audience members and artists wear masks and show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, may be insufficient to counter the rapid spread of the omicron variant as regional case numbers peak.
“We decided, as a result of those rising numbers, that even though we had all those protocols in place, that it was probably better for us to postpone our production ‘till the summer,” said Brian McKinley, an actor and executive assistant at the Black Rep.
To help protect its employees and audience, the Black Rep moved its production of "Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea” from January to July. It still plans to produce the next show on its schedule, “Fireflies,” in February.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/arts/2022-01-20/spiking-coronavirus-cases-are-prompting-st-louis-arts-leaders-to-pause-live-shows