COVID-19 Response Statement

October 2020: 
Tecumseh Center for the Arts, which is owned and operated by the City of Tecumseh, will follow the guidelines set forth by the State of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services, as defined by their Emergency Order Under MCL 333.2253 – Gathering Prohibition and Mask Wearing. Tecumseh Center for the Arts will be opening with the following safety guidelines in place.

Capacity Limits: 10/7/2020

• 20% capacity in the house = 114 tickets
  
  
• 20 people per 1,000 square foot (1 person per 50 square foot)
  • Box Office = 17x 12 = 204 sq. ft.                                 4 people in the Box Office
  • Lobby = 22 x 48 = 1,056 sq. ft.                                     21 people at a time in the lobby
  • Concessions = 11 x 8 = 88 ft.                                        1 person at a time in concessions
  • House = 75 x 83 = 6,225 sq. ft.                                    124 people at a time in the house
  • Stage = 31.6 x 51.6 = 1581 sq. ft.                               31 people at a time on stage
  • Orchestra Pit = 10 x 35= 350 sq. ft.                           7 people at a time in the pit
  • Dressing Rooms = 21 x 28 = 588 sq. ft.                     12 people in each dressing room
  • Scene Shop = 40 x 35= 1400 sq. ft.                            28 people in the Scene Shop
  • Green Room = 45 x 35= 1575 sq. ft.                          31 people in the Green Room

 
Mask Requirement | Hand Sanitizer | Social Distancing: 10/7/2020
Everyone in attendance at events held indoors at Tecumseh Center for the Arts will be required to wear a mask.

1. Face masks are required to be worn covering the mouth and nose while in the building.
2. A face shield may substitute for a face mask.
3. If no face mask or face shield is worn, the individual(s) will be asked to leave the building. 

In addition, hand sanitizer dispensers will be positioned at concessions, at the Box Office and backstage. Social distance guidelines will be followed.

• Front of House:
  • All staff members, volunteers and renting organizations must wear masks that cover both the nose and mouth upon entering the building and keep them on for the entire time they are in the building. Tecumseh Center for the Arts will have disposable masks available for anyone who doesn’t have their own. All staff members, volunteers and renting organization’s management will have their temperature checked, asked COVID health related questions and have hand sanitizer applied to their hands upon entering
  • Hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed at concessions, at the Box Office windows and on tables located within the lobby.
  • Social distancing signs will be placed on the floor of the lobby and sidewalks entering the building for crowd flow into the lobby.  We will ask patrons to enter the front doors in the respected lines marked for seating in the Left, Center or Right sections. The goal will be to get patrons in and seated upon arrival to minimize gathering in the lobby.
  • Patrons will be seated per social distancing guidelines, with empty seats to the left, right, front and behind each ticket. Family members of the same household may sit together but social distanced seating will not allow any non-family member to sit within six feet of each other.
  • Patrons will only be able to purchase tickets online to avoid in-person lines at the Box Office. In addition, all renters will use the TCA Box Office system to sell event tickets and to gather the necessary information for contact tracing for all ticket holders at the TCA.
  • Tickets will also be sold online for free concerts like school concerts. Guests attending any indoor event at the TCA must get a ticket online, even when free, so the TCA can have an accurate count of attendees and gather all necessary information for contract tracing.
  • Announcements will be made prior to the start of each show to discuss movement for concessions, beer and wine, and use of bathrooms. Emphasis will be placed on visiting these locations throughout the performance.
  • When possible, there will be no intermission to help limit the gathering in the lobby and bathrooms. If intermissions are needed for performance, then ushers will release patrons by sections.
  • Upon leaving, all patrons will be released by sections to limit the crowding in the lobby. There will not be any merchandise sold or meet and greets in the lobby at the end of performances. Socializing in the lobby will also not be permitted. Patrons will be reminded to pick up any trash and dispose of them in the garbage cans located throughout the lobby upon their exit.
  • Concessions, when available and approved by the TCA: only one worker will be allowed in the concessions at a time. Concession workers must wash hands upon entering the concessions area. Concession workers must always wear a mask and gloves. Gloves should be replaced periodically. Any food or drink must be commercially packaged. No change will be made. All drinks and snacks will be by donation only and placed in a donation jar.
  • Beer and Wine, when available and approved by the TCA: Only one worker will be allowed in the tavern area at one time. Drinks will not be poured into plastic cups. Instead, beer and wine will be sold in individually, commercially sold containers or cans. Drinks will be by exact cash only. $5 per drink.

 

• Back of House:
  • All performers and volunteers must always wear masks that cover the nose and mouth upon entering the building and keep them on for the entire time they are in the building, unless otherwise noted. Tecumseh Center for the Arts will have disposable masks available for anyone who doesn’t have their own.
  • All performers and backstage volunteers will enter through the Green Room to be checked in and have hand sanitizer squirted into their hands upon entering the Green Room. A TCA usher will be placed at the entrance to the Green Room to check in all performers, have their temperature checked and have them answer health related questions. If any performer refuses to have their temperature checked or answer the questions, they will not be permitted to enter.
  • Hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed in every room backstage.
  • Social distancing signs will be placed on the floor of the Green Room, Shop Area, Dressing Rooms and Backstage.
  • If one performer is on stage at a time, then they will not need to wear a mask. They will be given their personal, sanitized microphone. (Comedians, speakers, lectures, soloists). However, once off stage and not able to social distance backstage they will need to wear the mask again.
  • If more than one but less than five musicians are on stage at a time and require a microphone, they will be spaced out on stage and will not need to wear a mask. They will be given their personal, sanitized microphone (this applies to comedians, speakers, small bands, etc.). However, once off stage , they will need to wear the mask again.
  • Dancers will need to wear a mask on stage similar to how athletes are required to wear masks while playing volleyball and basketball indoors, unless they are a solo dancer and the studio receives pre-approval by Tecumseh Center for the Arts.
  • Musical Groups and choirs (Tecumseh Pops, School Groups, TCA Big Band & VocalAires, etc.) are still being researched about playing indoors. All recommended guidelines will be followed.
  • Choirs and large singing groups are still being researched about singing indoors.
  • Theater productions that involve group singing, dancing and ensembles on stage are still being researched.

 
Pre & Post Event Cleaning Guidelines: 10/7/2020
Tecumseh Center for the Arts is currently working on a contract with a professional cleaning company to sanitize before and after each performance. This includes touch points like doors, handles and counters as well as auditorium seats, carpeting, floors and entry points. Additional information will be provided once a contract is signed. 


September 2020: 
Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-183: Safe Start on Thursday, September 24, 2020. Under this new order, it is stated that:

"Moreover, this order relaxes the restrictions on attendance at social gatherings and organized events, which were previously fixed at 10 people indoors and 100 people outdoors for most of the state. Beginning October 9, 2020, most non-residential indoor venues can host social gatherings and organized events so long as they maintain fewer than 20 people per 1,000 square feet and require facial coverings. Performance venues and stadiums, similarly, will be permitted to operate at 20% seating capacity. Such gatherings and events must be no larger than 500 people in the largest indoor venues, in order to reduce the risk of a “superspreader” event. Outdoor gathering and event restrictions will also be relaxed, so long as they maintain fewer than 30 people per 1,000 square feet, or 30% seating capacity, up to 1,000 people in the largest outdoor spaces."
 
Tecumseh Center for the Arts is currently developing re-opening plans with the City of Tecumseh and the Lenawee County Health Department. The plan will include limited ticket sales of 114 seats per show, a maximum number of patrons and guests in each area of the theater, mandatory mask requirements, contract tracing procedures, and social distancing guidelines. 
 
Tecumseh Center for the Arts will provide its re-opening plans and guidelines to all renters, performers and patrons over the course of the next few weeks. 

March 2020:
Tecumseh Center for the Arts is owned and operated by the City of Tecumseh and will be operating during the COVID-19 outbreak as directed by the City of Tecumseh. The City of Tecumseh is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and the Lenawee County Health Department in response to the confirmed cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 in Michigan. First and foremost, we are taking steps to protect the health and safety of our City employees and residents to the maximum extent practical.

To read the City of Tecumseh’s Updated Response Statement, visit https://www.mytecumseh.org/alert_detail.php

Postponed and Canceled Events:
Due to the developing precautions being advised by our local, state and federal governments to contain and minimize exposure to the COVID-19, Tecumseh Center for the Arts is rescheduling all upcoming events indefinitely. 

Tecumseh Center for the Arts is currently working with all renters to reschedule these events for a later date. As soon as these new dates are confirmed, we will share them with the community. If you already purchased tickets to these postponed events, all tickets will be transferable to the rescheduled event dates. If you are unable to attend the events at its rescheduled date, then we will refund your ticket (minus any credit card and ticket processing fees).

A complete list of our upcoming events and their status, can be found online at https://www.thetca.org/buy-tickets.html

Restricted Access to Tecumseh Center for the Arts:
The City of Tecumseh has restricted access to City Buildings (including Tecumseh Center for the Arts) to City staff, tenants, contractors or urgent business only. Please call or e-mail ahead to see if your transaction can be accomplished remotely, or to set up an appointment.

Available By Phone, Email and Website:
Tecumseh Center for the Arts has closed its physical Box Office effective March 17, 2020. However, you can still contact Tecumseh Center for the Arts during our regular hours by phone, email or online through our website. If you would like to speak to a TCA employee, please call 517-423-6617 Tuesday- Friday between noon and 5 pm. We are also available by email at boxoffice@thetca.org or through our website at www.TheTCA.org.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work diligently with all our renters and partner organizations.

Prevention and Treatment Information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

State of Michigan Information
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus