“The area’s biggest arts presenter will require patrons to be vaccinated as well as masked when it reopens,” writes Peter Dobrin in Monday’s (8/23) Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Kimmel Center says the new policy begins with its free ‘Arts Launch’ open house Sept. 18, and will extend into the 2021-22 season. The mandate will be in place for all performances by the Kimmel’s resident companies—the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Philadelphia Ballet and others—and in all of its halls, including Verizon, the Academy of Music and the Merriam Theater … Proof of a negative COVID-19 test will not be accepted, with the exception of children under age 12, who will be required to show a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of the event.… Philadelphia Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker … is a family draw…. Executive director Shelly Power recognizes that mandatory testing … could put a chill on ticket sales [but thinks] ‘most parents want to keep their children safe.’ … The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society previously surveyed its listeners, and most patrons said they would feel more comfortable with a vaccine mandate in place…. Staff members and artists on the center’s stages will also be required to be vaccinated.”
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