MADISON, Wis. — Masking up might mean the muzzling of the arts once again in Madison. Public Health Madison & Dane County confirmed that under the latest mask mandate, those who are performing in the arts indoors will be required to wear a mask while performing.
It’s a decision that is leaving Bartell Community Theatre Director Steve Noll confused and frustrated.
“When you think about a restaurant, you can have people packed, eating and drinking without masks but yet having an actor that is twenty feet away from you without a mask is somehow not allowed,” explained Noll.
Noll says that he doesn’t disagree with masking up in Dane County, but wants clarification on why his performers (regardless of vaccination status) must be masked up during their performance.
For example, everyone who is in the cast and crew of Noll’s upcoming production of “Clue” is fully vaccinated. Plus, every single person who wants to attend the show must wear a mask and have proof of vaccination.
“A lot of people who have been responsible and doing the right thing, who have been looking forward to getting back to some sense of normality is now being punished,” said Noll.
If the mask mandate stays as currently enforced, Noll says the theatre would have to cancel their production.
“Especially a comedy like Clue cannot be performed in masks…we would have to cancel the production,” explained Noll.
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