![Hundreds of people lined the street in front of the Ordway Center, as the St. Paul Winter Carnival’s Torchlight Parade passed by. ] JIM GEHRZ • jgehrz@startribune.com / St. Paul, MN / January 31, 2015 / 6:00 PM / BACKGROUND INFORMATION: When the Ordway Center pulls back the curtain on its new 1,100-seat concert hall next weekend, it will be a milestone not only for the 30-year-old arts complex, but for the city of St. Paul and the Twin Cities as a whole. Coupled with the Ordway's 1,900-seat main stage, the new home of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra completes the original vision for the jewel-like venue on Rice Park, which had to scale back its ambitions after money ran short. The new space, designed by Tim Carl — the architect behind last year's successful redo of Northrop Auditorium — solves many problems that have plagued the Ordway for three decades, from sound quality to fractious relations among its arts users. Now that the SPCO has a gleaming new home, the main stage will be open to bring more events to downtown St. Paul, including longer runs by the Minnesota Opera, and more locally produced Broadway-style shows.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/JRJ4RKGZ2DVJBVSXWKHLNMHPN4.jpg?&w=1080)
The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, which is reopening in September, will require audience members to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours before the show.
The Arts Partnership — made up of the Minnesota Opera, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Ordway and Schubert Club — also announced those in the audience will be required to wear a mask except while eating and drinking in the lobbies, according to a news release Tuesday. The news comes as the spread of the Delta variant has surged in Minnesota, sending many to hospitals.
"It was the right thing to do for our audience and for the safety of our staff and community," Christine Sagstetter, interim president and CEO at the Ordway, said Tuesday evening. The decision was made jointly by the members of the Arts Partnership.
"This is the beginning," Sagstetter said of the spread of the Delta variant. "We all have to be willing to adjust and respond appropriately."
The mask protocol follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people should wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Attendance at the Ordway also will be limited to 50% capacity to allow for social distancing.
If ticket holders do not meet the requirements, test positive for the coronavirus or are uncomfortable attending the performance, tickets can be exchanged for another performance, donated or refunded with no fee or penalties, according to the release.
The Ordway's reopening will mark the first in-person indoor shows at the venue in more than 18 months.
