After closing their doors in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rose Theatre is working on reopening and having shows starting again soon.
All of the part-time staff members were terminated. But they’re hoping, if these next few months go well and shows are able to start again, they’ll be able to hire them back.
“We’re planning to do four shows that run much longer,” Mandy Aleksiak, director of audience services tells 6 News. “We’re going to run them for 6 weeks so we can do socially distanced seating.”
Normally the theater seats 1,000, but only 240 people will be now be allowed per show. All tickets need to be pre-ordered and there will be directed seating.
“If you’re sitting on the main floor, there will be 6 ft dots that lead you to the center door,” Melissa Richter, the audience service manager, tells 6 News. “If you’re choosing to go to the balcony, you’ll head up to what we call our forest stairs because they’re painted so fun and head up to the balcony that way.”
There will be no mixing of people who are sitting on the main floor or the balcony. When it comes to seating, Aleksiak says imagine the five on a dice.
“Two families on the edge of a row, then a family in the middle, and then another two families sitting on the row,” Aleksiak said.
She says masks will need to be worn in common areas like the lobby. But when you’re in your seat, you can take them off.
With all of these safety precautions in place, they’re excited to have performances back on their stage.
“The Rose theater is a building that is designed to have people in it. It’s designed to have laughing children and families, we want that energy here,” Aleksiak said.
(Photo: 6 News)