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When Hawaii moved to the less restrictive Tier 5 in its reopening strategy on July 8, the process of doing business was made easier for some local businesses.
For others — local theater groups, showrooms and movie theater chains — things remain complicated.
Tier 5 classifies live theater, concert venues and showrooms as “Static Structured Events at Venues.” Movie theaters have a category for themselves. Tier 5 allows both categories to have “pods” of up to 25 people indoors and 75 people outdoors.
“A pod is a group size — 25 indoors, 75 outdoors — for a group of people in one party,” said Tim Sakahara, communications director for the City and County of Honolulu. “One group of 25 could be seated together, so if there’s capacity (in the venue), you could have more people (than a single pod).
“If it’s an indoor facility, they could actually go to 100% capacity if either all guests are either tested with a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of that event or if they show the proof of full vaccination and that event has a mitigation plan in place as well,” he said.
Vaccinated or not, the indoor mask mandate still applies unless you are eating or drinking.
“There is a lot of detail,” Sakahara added, “but it is available at oneoahu.org/reopening-strategy.”
For movie fans the change should not affect their experience too much.
Consolidated Theatres spokesman Rod Tengan said ticket holders still must have 6 feet, or two seats, on either side of each group. Whether it’s a party of one or a pod of 25, the same rule applies.
“(Going to Tier 5) really hasn’t had any effect on our operation,” Tengan said. “(Tier 5) increased the group size, but everything else will remain the same.”
Consolidated requires that masks be worn throughout each multiplex facility, except when eating or drinking while seated. Social-distancing rules must be maintained when ordering at the concession stand, and no cash is accepted for purchases.
Local stage theaters are handling the Tier 5 level in different ways.
The Hawaii Shakespeare Festival and Kumu Kahua Theatre presented their 2020-2021 seasons in a Zoom format, with actors performing from their homes.
While the Shakespeare festival plans to continue virtual performances this summer, Kumu Kahua Managing Director Donna Blanchard is looking at other options.
“For the first show of our 51st season, which opens in September, the actors will be together (in the theater), with no audience present,” Blanchard said in an email while at rehearsals for another Kumu Kahua show. “The first two shows will be streamed only. We hope that our first show of 2022 will be performed with an in-person audience at our theatre.
“If restrictions still apply in six months, we’re considering offering performances for vaccinated audiences separate from nonvaccinated (audiences) — which has a much lower capacity,” she said. “We’re still working on the concept as our space is intimate and actors ‘move’ a lot of air around,” referring to how actors must project their voices.
Over in Iwilei, The Actors’ Group began to welcome live audiences again last month. Tier 5 allows the theater to accommodate 27 attendees (the theater’s capacity is 60 seats), regardless of group size. Attendees are required to wear masks and undergo temperature checks.
TAG Artistic Director Brad Powell said one reason behind resuming live audiences is that the theater’s core subscribers prefer the in-theater experience over streaming options.
“We considered (the online shows) successful artistically but not financially, so we thought as soon as they say we can open, we will,” he explained. “We’ve had no problems at all, and our patrons love it. We’re going to start the new season at the end of August.”
Diamond Head Theatre Executive Director Deena Dray said Tier 5 also makes it possible to do larger shows again. Previously, the theater had responded to COVID-19 protocols by either presenting shows with two- person casts and minimal movement, or shows of no more than five actors choreographed to ensure that each actor remained at least 6 feet away from the others onstage.
“The tiers have opened up casting possibilities for us, and we are feeling more comfortable to have cast members onstage in larger numbers,” Dray said. “As far as seating and audience (size), we are still doing the same as we done since we started doing shows (in the theater) again.”
On July 16, DHT opened the musical “A Chorus Line” with a cast of 24 onstage. Tier 5 allows 228 people per show, or 46% of the theater’s seating capacity.
Manoa Valley Theatre likewise staged shows with small casts, performing for masked audiences seated in socially distanced groups, with an audience maximum of 40 people per show. As conditions relaxed, MVT presented a larger show last month, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” in the Kaimuki High School theater, a much larger facility, with the same COVID- 19 safety protocols in place.
The transition to Tier 5 allowed MVT to accommodate audiences of up to 60 people for the final weekend of “Daddy Long Legs” this month; the theater’s maximum capacity is 165.
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