We are delighted to inform you that, beginning in July, we will be able to expand our seating capacity based on the most recent New York State and Centers for Disease Control regulations. To assure that this capacity adjustment will offer our PS21 audiences the same, high level of confidence that their visit will be safe and enjoyable, the cooperation and solidarity of theater attendees will be needed. Please note the following adjustments to our ticketing and attendance policies:

THEATER SEATING.  Seats will continue to be sold in pairs. Increasing our capacity to 50% will afford us room to space pairs of seats at least two (2) feet apart.

MASKS.  As we are an open-air, outdoor theater, mask wearing will no longer be mandatory.  It will remain optional, however, as some patrons will feel more comfortable wearing a mask.

VACCINATION STATUS.  As with many other organizations, confirmation of vaccination status will be required from each person prior to entering the pavilion. We ask that ticket holders arrive at the theater earlier than usual to assure timely check-in for your performance. At check-in, please present one of these accepted forms of proof of vaccination:

• Your vaccination card or a photo (cell phone) of your vaccination card
• New York State Excelsior Pass

TICKET ORDERS.  Our online ticketing portal has been updated to reflect these changes. Your purchase will include your affirmation that you understand and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the purchase.

CURRENT TICKET HOLDERS.  Every effort will be made to preserve or improve the location of the seats based on your original purchase. If you have questions or concerns about your seat location, please call our office at 518-392-6121, or email boxoffice@ps21chatham.org. 

We are confident that these changes will enhance your experience as a visitor to PS21 performances. As we expect that most of our audience members will be vaccinated by midsummer, these adjustments will take us all much closer to restoring PS21 to a completely open-access venue for our community and visitors. These policy changes will take effect July 2 for the first Paul Taylor Dance Company performances.

Interest in this season’s performances continues to climb as ticket sales have been robust. We are very pleased that this recent news will allow PS21 to include more people in our theater while still ensuring that our beautiful home remains inviting, safe, and artistically rewarding for all visitors.

The Extinctionist which opens PS21 Season this weekend, is profiled in today’s New York Times:

“You can’t put climate change onstage. But you can show what climate change does to a marriage, to a friendship, to people’s choices…”

The Extinctionist, Heartbeat Opera’s dark comedy about motherhood, climate collapse, and our responsibility to the future, opens PS21’s summer season with semi-staged performances on May 29 and 30. The opera, developed in residency in our Pavilion Theater, portrays the stark choice facing a couple who want to have a child. But the ice caps are melting,  their city will soon be under water, and the woman wonders, What if she could save the planet by sterilizing herself—by becoming the first “Extinctionist”?

We are looking forward to welcoming you soon at PS21!