Covid-19 Policy
OUT OF THE BOX THEATRE COMPANY INC.SARS-CoV-2 Safety and Health Policy and Procedures.
Rev.7 Issued on 2/2/2022
Out of the Box Theatre Company Inc.’s (OotB) principal goal is to assure the health, wellbeing and safety of its staff, artists and patrons.
The following Policy and Procedures are adopted to reduce everybody’s risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and are based on
The Policy and Procedures shall be updated periodically to align with any Source Materials revisions and new experiences and insights and shall be shared via the OotB website.
Additionally the Policy and Procedures shall be provided electronically to all interviewers, interviewees, actors, directors, stage managers, designers, technical crew, administrators and volunteers. Pertinent parts of the Policy shall be displayed at the venue before and during rehearsal. The venue(s) shall provide to OotB a copy of the venue’s Health and Safety Protocols, which shall be incorporated hereto.
Person(s) who do not provide proof of full vaccination* and who are not wearing face covering will be denied entry.
Table of Content:
Other certified Out of the Box Theatre Company Covid Compliance Officers listed below may serve in said capacity during rehearsal and production.
Rev.7 Issued on 2/2/2022
Out of the Box Theatre Company Inc.’s (OotB) principal goal is to assure the health, wellbeing and safety of its staff, artists and patrons.
The following Policy and Procedures are adopted to reduce everybody’s risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and are based on
- U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for Covid-19,
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention Interim Guidance for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)1/12/2022,,
- Actors’ Equity Association Four Principles and Covid-19 Testing Guidelines Guidelines and MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION AND EMPLOYER REGARRDING COVID-19 PANDEMIC REOPENING PROCESS dated 2/1/2022,
- “The Safe Way Forward” joint report from the Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and the Basic Crafts, and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) on COVID-19 Safety Guidelines to Provide Safe Workplaces in a Pre Vaccine World,
- AGMA SDC Special Guidance on Vaccinations and Testing ,
- SDC Guidance on COVID 19 Delta Variant,
- The Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide,
- NYC Office of the Mayor Emergency Executive Order 228 as well as
- any other local and state rules and recommendations,
The Policy and Procedures shall be updated periodically to align with any Source Materials revisions and new experiences and insights and shall be shared via the OotB website.
Additionally the Policy and Procedures shall be provided electronically to all interviewers, interviewees, actors, directors, stage managers, designers, technical crew, administrators and volunteers. Pertinent parts of the Policy shall be displayed at the venue before and during rehearsal. The venue(s) shall provide to OotB a copy of the venue’s Health and Safety Protocols, which shall be incorporated hereto.
Person(s) who do not provide proof of full vaccination* and who are not wearing face covering will be denied entry.
Table of Content:
- Interviews and Auditions
- Rehearsals
- Performance
- Designers and Crew
- Actors
- Administrators and Volunteers
- Audience
- Safety Training and Record Keeping
- Covid-19 Mitigation Coordinator/Covid Compliance Officer
- Interviews and Auditions
- All interviews and auditions shall take place via conference or video call and shall be pre-scheduled via phone, text or email.
- Sides shall be provided to auditioning actors electronically ahead of auditions.
- Rehearsals
- Every member of the cast and crew shall provide proof of Full Vaccination* prior to being hired. OotB needs to maintain 100% vaccinated status in order to abide by AGMA/SDC Special Guidance of Vaccination and Testing. Every member of the cast and crew shall provide proof of testing for active Covid-19 infection before their first in person rehearsal and/or meeting to ensure they are not shedding the virus. The tests should have a high sensitivity and high specificity and shall be provided by OotB. The tests shall be taken no sooner than 3 hours before in person rehearsal and/or meeting. The frequency of the subsequent testing will be determined by levels of infections and local guidelines.
- Any member of the cast and crew who becomes ill or has at least one symptom must report their symptom(s) to the COVID-19 Safety Manager(s) and self-isolate. The individual can return to in-person work if they receive a negative test result or are cleared by a licensed health care provider.
- All in person rehearsals shall take place in well-ventilated and disinfected room(s). The venue administration shall maintain regular housekeeping practices including routine cleaning and disinfecting of all touch surfaces and equipment while using EPA-approved disinfecting products expected to be effective against SARS-CoV-2.
- All persons present shall wear face coverings and maintain physical distance of at least six feet from each other during rehearsals and while entering and exiting the venue. Individuals arriving via mass transit shall be asked to wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival.
- Upon request actors shall be provided NK95/K95 face masks and transparent reusable face shields, which they shall clean and maintain during the term of the rehearsals.
- Upon entering, an administrator shall implement a mandatory health screening assessment which includes completing a “Covid Questionnaire” (attached below**) or “Covid Questionnaire” as mandated by the venue and NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority)...and taking an attending person’s body temperature using a “touchless” thermometer. If a person’s body temperature is high and/or he/she cannot pass the screening assessment then he/she shall be asked to leave.
- Frequent hand washing shall be encouraged and hand sanitizers, tissues and no-touch trash cans shall be available on site. Any used tissues shall be promptly disposed of by the user.
- Bathroom facilities equipped with warm water, soap and paper towels shall be available.
- All travel reimbursements and stipends shall be paid by check.
- All the procedures shall be provided to all meeting/rehearsals’ participants electronically in advance. Each participant shall confirm in writing that he/she has received it and is familiar with it. Participants not following the procedures shall be asked to leave.
- Performance
- Designers and Crew
- The Policy and Procedures shall be provided to all designers and technical crew members electronically in advance and each person shall affirm in writing that they have read and agree to comply with the Policy and Procedures. Individuals not following the procedures shall be asked to leave.
- All designers and tech crew members shall be required to wear face masks and maintain physical distance of at least six feet from each other at all times. Individuals arriving via mass transit shall be asked to wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival.
- Upon entering all designers and crew members shall present proof of negative Covid test and an administrator shall implement a mandatory health screening assessment which includes completing a “Covid Questionnaire” (attached below**) or “Covid Questionnaire” as mandated by the venue and NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) and taking the person’s body temperature using a “touchless” thermometer. If a person’s body temperature is high and/or he/she cannot pass screening assessment then he/she shall be asked to leave.
- Hand disinfectants, tissues and no-touch trash cans shall be available on site. Any used tissues shall be promptly disposed of by the user.
- Sound and light boards shall be disinfected before and after each use. There shall be no shared use of any equipment, props and tools.
- Actors
- All actors shall enter and exit the venue wearing masks and socially distancing at least six feet from each other.
- Upon entering actors shall present proof of negative Covid test and an administrator shall implement a mandatory health screening assessment which includes completing a “Covid Questionnaire” (attached below**) or “Covid Questionnaire” as mandated by the venue and NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority)...and taking an actor’s body temperature using a “touchless” thermometer. If an actor’s body temperature is high and/or he/she cannot pass screening assessment then he/she shall be asked to leave.
- Actors arriving via mass transit shall be asked to wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival.
- If in use the Green Room(s) shall have proper ventilation and ample space to allow for social distancing. If needed, Plexiglas shields shall be placed to separate the actors from each other. Green Room(s), stage, stage elements, props and all touch surfaces shall be disinfected using EPA-approved disinfecting products expected to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Hand sanitizers, tissues and no-touch trash cans shall be available in Green Room(s). Any used tissues shall be promptly disposed of by the user.
- Bathroom facilities equipped with warm water, soap and paper towels shall be available.
- All actors shall be required to keep their belongings separate and not to share any individual items such as mirrors, make up etc. Drinking fountain shall be disconnected. Bottled water shall be provided during production.
- Actors shall enter and exit the designated areas while socially distancing at least six feet from each other. .
- viii.All travel reimbursements and stipends shall be paid by check.
- Administrators and Volunteers
- All administrators and volunteers shall affirm in writing that they have read and agree to comply with the Policy and Procedures and received instruction on proper use of face masks.
- Upon entering all administrators and volunteers shall complete mandatory health screening assessment which includes completing a “Covid Questionnaire” (attached below***) or “Covid Questionnaire” as mandated by the venue and NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority).Covid administrator shall take everybody’s body temperature using a “touchless” thermometer. If a person’s body temperature is high and/or he/she cannot pass screening assessment then he/she shall be asked to leave.
- Individuals arriving via mass transit shall be asked to wash or sanitized their hands upon entering the venue. Face masks, hand sanitizers and tissues shall be provided...
- Audience
- Bathroom facilities equipped with warm water, soap and paper towels shall be available. Sanitizing wipes shall be provided to wipe down door knobs, toilet seats, and sinks prior to use.
- All seats shall be set up at least six feet from each other. If a group should identify itself as a social circle while purchasing multiple tickets, if possible, arrangements shall be made to have the parties seated together.
- Tickets sales shall be conducted only electronically online using third-party vendors such as ShowTix4U and TDF. Online ticket purchasers shall require patrons to check a box affirming that they have read and agree to comply with the Policy and Procedures.
- Admission/Departure procedures: Ticket holders shall enter the venue while social distancing from each other. Upon entering patrons shall present a proof of Full Vaccination. Patrons’ temperature shall be taken using a “touchless” thermometer. If a ticket holder manifests high temperature, he/she shall be asked to leave and the ticket price will be refunded. If such patron is a part of a larger group self-identified as a social circle all the members of such social circle shall be asked to leave. An administrator shall implement a mandatory health screening assessment which includes completing a “Covid Questionnaire” as mandated by the venue and NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority). All ticket holders shall be required to wear face masks at all times. Upon check-in at the Box Office, patrons shall be offered the program. In order to avoid multi-touch-point objects, the programs, which also serve as tickets, shall be placed on a flat surface for patrons to pick up. Patrons electing not to collect the program shall still be admitted to the performance. Distributed programs shall not be reused and shall be discarded.
- Each patron shall be individually and immediately ushered to his/her seat after check-in. Ushers shall seat patrons sequentially starting with stage left front row in order to avoid any close contact among patrons. Any attempt to congregate by patrons shall be discouraged. There shall be no patrons’ indoor waiting area. At the end of the performance patrons shall be directed to leave gradually while maintaining social distancing. Patrons seated nearest the exit shall leave first. Individuals with disabilities shall be given priority while entering or leaving the venue and if requested shall be offered special assistance and shall follow the same safety policy as other patrons. The chair-lift shall be disinfected after every use.
- Senior voucher recipients’ names shall be checked at the box office against lists previously provided by senior center(s). Paper vouchers shall not be collected by the box office.
- Any mingling and socializing among patrons outside of their own social circle shall be discouraged. There shall be no reception. There shall be no concession sales. There shall be no sign-up book. Patrons shall be encouraged to sign up with OotB electronically. Any patron interested in meeting exiting actors shall be asked to wait outside the venue.
- Equity members interested in attending a performance shall be provided instructions for an electronic sign-up (displayed at the venue entrance) and shall be encouraged to wait outside the venue. They shall be alerted of seats’ availability electronically and admitted in the same manner as other patrons.
- Industry Professionals shall be asked to provide their personal information electronically and shall be asked to follow the admission and departure procedures contained in (v) above.
- Performance Space: Performance shall take place in a well-ventilated space. The venue administration shall maintain regular housekeeping practices including routine cleaning and disinfecting of all touch surfaces and equipment before each performance while using EPA-approved disinfecting products expected to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Frequent hand washing shall be encouraged and hand sanitizers, tissues and no-touch trash cans shall be available on site to allow for supplemental hand washing with disinfection.
- Designers and Crew
- Safety Training and Record Keeping
- Prior to joining the production all actors, directors, stage managers, designers, technical crew members, administrators and volunteers shall provide photo or scan of their proof of full vaccination.
- All actors, directors, stage managers, designers, technical crew members, administrators and volunteers shall be provided the electronic copy of the Policy and Procedures and receive instruction on proper use, removal and, as appropriate, washing, disinfecting or disposal of face coverings The Policy and Procedures shall be subsequently reviewed face to face with all during the first in-person meeting/rehearsal or visit to the venue.
- OotB shall keep records of all in-person meetings which shall including date, time, list of attendees, Covid Test proof and “Covid Questionnaire” copies. The information will be kept confidential and destroyed after period of six months.
- Covid-19 Mitigation Coordinator/Covid Compliance Officer
Halina Malinowski shall be designated as a contact person for all matters related to the Policy and Procedures and can be contacted at 917.992.5150.
Other certified Out of the Box Theatre Company Covid Compliance Officers listed below may serve in said capacity during rehearsal and production.
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*Proof of the Full Vaccination
For the purpose of this document and Out of the Box Theatre Company’s Covid Policy Fully Vaccinated individual’s status shall mean individual who received two vaccination shots of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine followed by a booster shot. The booster shot has to be administered at least two weeks prior to the individual’s first in person rehearsal and/or meeting. The proof of vaccine shall be presented as NYC COVID SAFE, EXCELSIOR PASS phone apps or paper proof.
**Covid Questionnaire
Date___________ Time________________
Name______________________________
For the purpose of this document and Out of the Box Theatre Company’s Covid Policy Fully Vaccinated individual’s status shall mean individual who received two vaccination shots of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine followed by a booster shot. The booster shot has to be administered at least two weeks prior to the individual’s first in person rehearsal and/or meeting. The proof of vaccine shall be presented as NYC COVID SAFE, EXCELSIOR PASS phone apps or paper proof.
**Covid Questionnaire
Date___________ Time________________
Name______________________________
- Did you have any Covid symptoms in past 14 days such as
- Temperature over 100.40 F without having taken any fever reducing medication,
- Loss of smell and/or taste
- Cough,
- Muscle ache,
- Sore throat,
- Congestion or runny nose,
- Shortness of breath,
- Chills,
- Headache,
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Did you have a positive Covid test, were placed in quarantine or were asked to
- Did you have close contact with a confirmed or suspected Covid-19 case in the past 14 days?
- Did you travel outside the US or to any state and/or territories designated by New York Executive Order 205 as Restricted States Requiring Quarantine in past 14 days?
- Did you travel outside the US or to any state and/or territories designated by New York Executive Order 205 as Restricted States Requiring Quarantine in past 14 days?