BOSTON — Nine Massachusetts movie theaters run by Showcase Cinemas will reopen next week, according to a release from the company.
Indoor movie theaters are allowed to operate in Phase 3 of Governor Charlie Baker’s reopening plan.
The guidelines for operation provide the following stipulations for movie theaters:
- 40% of each individual theater or screening room’s maximum permitted occupancy as documented in its occupancy permit on record with the municipal building department or other municipal record holder, and never more than 25 persons in a single enclosed, indoor space
- Venues for which no permitted occupancy limitation is on record may allow 8 persons per 1,000 square feet of accessible space, and never more than 25 persons in a single enclosed, indoor space
The theaters will open on Aug. 28, in time for the highly anticipated Christopher Nolan movie Tenet, which was expected to be a big summer blockbuster.
Two Showcase theaters in Rhode Island and one in Ohio are already operating.
Showcase Cinemas is touting its ‘Be Showcase Safe’ mantra with the following provisions:
- All employees will have a temperature check and symptoms screening before they begin each shift;
- All employees must wear protective face masks at all times and must use gloves for food service;
- All patrons must wear protective face coverings;
- All patrons will be asked to socially distance by staying at least 6 feet apart until they are in their seats;
- Installation of a new bi-polar ionization air-purifying systems and MERV 13 HVAC air filters for all US theaters;
- Social distancing floor markers will be placed throughout our lobby, box office and concession areas;
- New contactless payment options and food/beverage/ticket pre-order are available through showcasecinemas.com and our Showcase app;
- Concession offerings will be made available in covered containers;
- Plexiglas shields have been added at the box office and concession areas;
- We will be continuously cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces throughout the cinema;
- Hand-sanitizing stations will be available to patrons and employees throughout the cinema;
- We are limiting the number of patrons who can sit together;
- We are reducing auditorium capacity;
- We are implementing extensive cleaning protocols throughout the day, between showtimes and at close of business using EPA-approved disinfecting products; and
- We are increasing the time between showings to clean auditoriums.
MORE: Baker postpones next step in state’s reopening, forms COVID-19 enforcement team
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RESOURCES:
- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information
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