BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Shea's Performing Arts Center is ready to welcome back theatre fans on Friday for the first time in 547 days.
The downtown theatre will begin with a two-week run of Disney's Frozen.
"They're going to see a very full theatre district and we're excited about that," Shea's President Michael G. Murphy said. "With restaurants reopening and the theatre reopening, it's going to be a very great time in Downtown Buffalo."
Anyone looking to see a show at Shea's will be required to wear a mask. Murphy said the theatre will not be mandating a vaccine or a COVID-19 test in order to gain entry.
"With having 12,000 children not being able to be vaccinated, we didn't want to have to send them to get PCR tested 72 hours before a show," Murphy said. "We didn't think parents would appreciate doing that. We felt best to just really be strict about the masking. We will be observing during the show and address anyone who lowers the mask below their nose or mouth."
Shea's will also not be serving concessions during the show, meaning those watching a show will not have an opportunity to pull the mask done.
Albert Nocciolino, the producing partner with Sheas, said there has already been 4,000 hotel rooms booked through the rehearsal process known as "teching".
"Frozen is our first show and the first show opening in Upstate New York," Nocciolino said. "Right after Frozen leaves, Tootsie rolling in for a couple of weeks and putting their show together here. In the spring, we'll be teching and launching the tour of To Kill a Mockingbird, which we're very excited again."
Shea's has 16,000 subscribers, though some who are Canadian residents are unable to get into the United States to see a show. Murphy said those Canadian residents will be given a credit onto their accounts for future shows.
