Los Angeles audiences will have to stay up to date up on their vaccinations. The Music Center — L.A.’s downtown performing arts complex that includes Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, and Mark Taper Forum — is requiring a COVID-19 booster shot for entry to its indoor venues.
The policy, announced Dec. 22, 2021, goes into effect Jan. 17, 2022. At that time, proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 — what The Music Center and its resident companies have asked of audiences since reopening last year — will mean a booster shot too.
The updated requirement hinges on eligibility in some cases. The Music Center, along with the LA Phil, is allowing a grace period for concertgoers not yet qualified to receive a booster — those less than six months out from their last shot of a two-dose vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer) or two months from a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson). Once eligible, those affected will have one month to get their boosters.
The Music Center is also making exceptions for those unable to provide proof of vaccination. Concertgoers can furnish a negative COVID-19 test (taken 48 hours before the performance for a PCR test or 24 hours for an antigen test), but this doesn’t necessarily apply for affiliate organizations. The LA Phil and Los Angeles Master Chorale only accept proof of vaccination (though fine print may allow for medical and religious exemptions). LA Opera, which resumes performances in March, is currently considering its plans.
The new policy in L.A. is in line with attitudes at other arts organizations across the country. The Metropolitan Opera was among of the first to announce a booster requirement, writing on Dec. 15, 2021, that “this higher level of vigilance is being put into effect in response to the anticipated wider spread of the Omicron variant.”
As always, get the most up-to-date information on the status of a given performance, as well as the venue’s specific health and safety requirements, from the presenter or organization directly.
