Roanoke, VA – October 14, 2021
Since the start of Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2021 Season, the safety of our audience, staff, crew, volunteers and cast has been of the utmost importance. On Wednesday, October 13th, those practices were tested. We implemented policies based on current best practices to contain COVID-19 transmission that work to keep Mill Mountain Theatre a safe environment for everyone.
The theatre requires all members of its staff, cast, crew and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Secondly, the staff, crew, volunteers and audience members have all been required to wear masks throughout the duration of the performance, with cast members wearing their masks at all times when offstage. For additional safety, Mill Mountain Theatre’s creative team and the cast are tested weekly for COVID-19 using PCR tests with the highest possible accuracy. The results are reviewed by the theatre staff including our trained COVID-19 safety officers—performers as well as crew members who are in the theatre at all times to ensure the safety of all.
Unfortunately, even with all of those precautions in place, during Mill Mountain Theatre’s 7:30 p.m. performance on Wednesday, October 13th there was an individual positive test result. This report came from a test done at a facility different from the lab used routinely for testing the entire cast and crew. When MMT’s production team received this news during Act I of Wednesday’s performance, one of MMT’s COVID-19 Safety Compliance Officers promptly tested the cast member with three over-the-counter testing kits. All of those tests read as negative. Without having another PCR negative (considered the most reliable) test, MMT, out of an abundance of caution and concern for all, made the decision to protect the rest of the cast, crew, volunteers and our audience based upon the available information. During intermission, Mill Mountain Theatre made the official announcement that Legally Blonde The Musical would not continue its performance for Wednesday night and the show ended after the intermission.
On Thursday, October 14th, A second PCR test at the standard MMT testing facility was scheduled. Our decision is based upon the results of a retest of the individual company member performed this morning at the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, the largest COVID-19 testing laboratory in the region, using an FDA approved PCR test. This decision was made in consultation with health professionals on our board of directors. The results of the test this morning were negative proving that the initial test was a false positive test result.
In the interim, the entire theatre will be sanitized thoroughly before allowing audiences, crew members, staff and volunteers back into the theatre. Mill Mountain Theatre will continue its current COVID-19 practices for our cast and crew of testing weekly, offstage mask-wearing during rehearsals or performances, and routine temperature checks/daily wellness surveys. The theatre will continue to take an active stance on the safety of our patrons, including thorough cleaning and sanitizing of the theatre prior to each performance, masking for our audiences at performances, touchless ticketing, and digital programs. We will continue to consult with experts to maintain best practices to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved. Mill Mountain Theatre will continue being in close contact with health officials on MMT’s board as we strive to be proactive against the COVID-19 virus and MMT’s safety practices.
Mill Mountain Theatre thanks those who were with us Wednesday night as we navigated through a whirlwind of 30 minutes. We appreciated the audience’s patience and understanding. We look forward to a safe continuation of our final five performances of Legally Blonde The Musical.
Patrons who attended the October 13th performance and would like tickets to another show in our season or a refund should contact the box office at 540.342.5740.
The theatre thanks everyone for continued support.
We look forward to having you back at Mill Mountain Theatre!
