Concerts / Performances / Theaters

Updated May 17, 2021

Performances include indoor and outdoor concerts, and live music in restaurants.

Live performers include DJs.

Theaters at which live performances occur or motion pictures are shown may open 75% capacity.

Event type	Status
Live performances without audiences	Permitted for broadcast or streaming if the venue meets the General Operating Requirements and gathering limits
Live performances with audiences	In theaters: allowed at up to 75% of maximum capacity Food service establishments, breweries, and wineries Live performances incidental to serving food and/or drink are permitted. See capacity limits for foodservice. Dancing is prohibited. Individuals present during a live performance must follow all applicable provisions of the County Board of Health Regulation, including maintaining social distancing and the best practices issued by the State for performances (PDF).

Outdoor Performance Requirements

Performances may be held at 75% capacity. This includes the cast, crew, and staff. ( See cast, crew, and staff detail. )

• Audience members must practice physical distancing by sitting at least six feet away from any individuals outside of their households.

Patrons must buy tickets in advance.

• Tickets must be in electronic form.
• As part of the ticketing process, at least one member of a ticketed group will be required to provide this information in case they need to be reached for contact tracing:
  • address
  • phone number
  • email address

All guests and theater staff must wear face coverings at all times. The venue must have additional face coverings available for free to all patrons.

The venue must sanitize all surfaces and common areas after each show, using CDC-approved disinfectants.

Each staff member must be asked these questions prior to entry. If the answer to either of these questions is “yes”, then the staff should not be permitted to work the event.

• Are you suffering from any of the common symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of taste etc.)?
• Have you had close personal contact with anybody known to have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis over the past two weeks?

Outdoor Performance Recommendations

Test each performer for COVID-19 before the run of the show.

Tell patrons to report COVID-19 symptoms from anyone in their party toMontgomery County’s Disease Control Team at 240-777-1755.

Oversight

These guidelines must be overseen by a designated COVID-19 Response Coordinator or Safety Officer.

Letter of Approval

The venue must submit a request for a Letter for Approval which includes

• a seating chart that demonstrates the required physical distancing practices.
• a plan to ensure the health and safety of the performers.

We recommend that any theater company follow the guidelines issued by SAG-AFTRA (PDF). 

Cast, crew, and staff

For shows where there are physical barriers that separate performers (and some staff) from the general audience, venues may submit, as part of their Letter of Approval, a request that the cast/crew/performers be viewed as a distinct pool of participants (separate from the 75% audience).

This will require strict separation via infrastructure and process, but would allow for those separated cast and crew not to count against the audience allowance of 75% capacity.

Any staff member (ticket taker, for example) that physically interacts with the audience would need to be included within their 75% capacity limit.