COVID - 19 | Fishtank Theatre

Fishtank Theatre is committed to the health and safety of our guests, artists, and staff.

Fishtank Theatre is an arts presenter and producer residing at The Black Box at 1060 Union Ave, KCMO 64101.

Fishtank Theatre established a Reopening Plan to ensure the health and safety of the public and staff. It contains recommendations applicable to Fishtank Theatre operations in accordance with the latest guidance from the local, state, and federal health authorities, which include infection preventive measures, workplace controls, housekeeping as well as communicating policies and guidelines to employees and the public.

Key prevention practices include:

physical distancing to the maximum extent possible, use of face coverings by employees and visitors,
frequent handwashing and regular cleaning and disinfection,
training employees on these and other elements of the COVID-19 prevention plan.

LATEST CITY GUIDELINES: JANUARY 15, 2021

Mayor Lucas has extended Kansas City’s State of Emergency to May 1, 2021. Mayor Lucas’s Twelfth Amended Order takes effect at 10 p.m. today and expires contemporaneously with expiration of the State of Emergency, unless extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in a subsequent order in the interest of public health.

Twelfth Amended COVID-19 Order

Restaurants, taverns, and all other venues, including wedding and other event spaces, may extend their closing hour from 10 p.m. to midnight to create better regional alignment, while continuing strict capacity and social distancing requirements—coupled with Kansas City government utilizing its robust enforcement apparatus—to keep patrons safe.

Additional guidelines are as follows:

Restaurants, taverns, bars, and all other venues, including wedding and other event spaces, shall close at midnight, require social distancing between different parties, and limit the number of occupants indoors to no more than 50 percent of building occupancy. Indoor and outdoor patrons at these facilities must be seated, and also masked at all times except when actively eating or drinking.
Indoor and outdoor parties are limited to a maximum of 10 people and parties shall be spaced with no less than six feet of distance between themselves and individuals from any other parties.
Restaurants, taverns, and bars must immediately report known COVID-19 cases to the Kansas City Health Department.
Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 persons maximum.
Masks must be worn in all indoor spaces with more than one person per room, and outdoor spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained.

IN COORDINATION WITH THE LOCAL ORDINANCE:

Fishtank Theatre Onsite and remote staffing

All staff and volunteers are required to watch the Best Practice for COVID-19 Safety training video on the Missouri Arts Council website prior to beginning onsite work at the theater. This video can be accessed at:
https://form.jotform.com/moarts/missouri-artsafe-registration
All staff and volunteers will wear face masks.
All staff meetings are to be conducted remotely until pandemic has ended.
There should be no guests in the theater unless connected with the show, Fishtank Theatre or the venue owner.
For minors under 18, only one parent may be present during rehearsals but must follow the same safety protocol as the cast and crew.
Physical paperwork should be avoided. All forms are to be made available digitally.

Enhanced Sanitation & Hygene

In addition to measures taken by the venue owner, Fishtank Theatre production staff for each show will ensure daily cleaning of all spaces utilized during rehearsals or performances. These will include but will not be limited to high touch surfaces in public areas such as door handles and light switches, but also the light and sound boards, props, set pieces and chairs.
Public bathrooms during rehearsals will be maintained (stocked with supplies provided by the venue owner and cleaned) by the production crew for each show. The Venue Owner will be responsible for stocking and maintaining the bathroom on a weekly basis during the rehearsal process and daily during shows.
Theater seats will not be utilized by the cast of shows during rehearsals to avoid extra cleaning. The Venue Owner will bring in hard surface chairs for rehearsals to facilitate cleaning by the cast nightly.
Disposable masks and gloves and wipes will be provided by Fishtank Theatre for production crews.
Hand sanitizer in the lobby and outside of the public bathroom shall be provided by the venue owner.
Hand sanitizer for inside the dressing room, pit, props area, our staff/volunteers dealing directly with the public or office will be provided by Fishtank Theatre.
Cast members should provide their own, clearly marked, water bottle. These will be the only food or beverage allowed in the theater or common area.

COVID-19 Dress Code Policies

All staff, actors, musicians, crew and patrons will have masks on when inside the venue including during rehearsals except when individual is performing on stage.
Fishtank Theatre will provide disposable masks to actors, crew and patrons without them and will not be let into the facility without one.

Health Screening

All staff, actors, crew and patrons will receive a temperature check at the building entry point. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 F or greater will be denied entry.

Contact tracing protocols

A record of all cast, crew and staff present will be kept nightly by each production.
A record of all patrons will be kept by Fishtank Theatre.
In the event of a report of positive COVID-19 infection, all persons documented will be notified of a possible exposure and advised to contact their physician for further guidance.
Fishtank Theatre will notify the Jackson County Health Department of any known exposures and will provide contact lists as requested.

Contactless public experience

The Venue Owner will provide a plexiglass barrier will be placed at the box office.
Interior lobby doors will remain open from the time the box office opens until the scheduled production start time. Fishtank Theatre personnel and volunteers will encourage guests to leave the lobby and find their seats.
Fishtank Theatre staff or volunteer will control the front door to allow contactless entry.
Ticketing will be done on line along with a safety disclaimer whenever possible.
Show programs will be provided digitally when possible. No printed materials will be collected from the audience to be reused.

Reduced capacities and social distancing

The Venue Owner will be responsible for marking off theater seating to ensure appropriate social distancing of 6 feet.
50% capacity (JCHD guidelines for phase 2 and 2.5) = 50 seats or whatever is mandated by the city at the time.
Visible signage encouraging social distancing will be provided by the Venue Owner.
A recorded pre-show announcement, provided by Fishtank Theatre will encourage social distancing and keeping masks on throughout the performance.
Intermissions will be extended from 15 to 20 minutes to accommodate social distancing.
There will be no food or drink sold in the lobby or allowed in the theater during rehearsals or performances. The only exception are marked water bottles for the cast during rehearsals.

Communication strategies

Fishtank Theatre will communicate in person and in writing, a set of expectations to follow all of the guidelines above to all production staff, actors, crew, and volunteers.
All staff, cast, crew and volunteers will be trained and provided with examples to use for communicating respectfully and professionally to any guest or other visitor who is not in compliance with the guidelines above.