Kentucky Performing Arts - Health and Safety Guidelines

Kentucky Performing Arts is excited to welcome you to our venues! We cannot thank you enough for your continued support.

When you come to The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the Brown Theatre, and Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, there may be COVID-19 protocols in place to help create a safe environment for our guests, staff, and artists.  

Currently, here is an overview of what you can expect: 

Face masks that cover the nose and mouth may be required at your event.  If so, masks are to be worn at all times by guests (including children over 2 years of age), staff, and volunteers, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are required to be kept on during performances, but can be temporarily removed while actively eating and drinking.

If masks are required, all staff, volunteers, artists and audiences should bring their own mask and wear it as you enter the building. Single-use masks will be available at our venues if needed.

We are actively working to receive our GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a Division of ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. Once obtained, this cleaning standards certification will place all KPA venues on the international registry of GBAC accredited venues. 

- High traffic areas will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected several times during your visit with agents that kill the COVID-19 virus. 

- Theaters, concert halls, and reception spaces will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected before each use. 

- Restrooms will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected often throughout your visit. 

At the Brown Theatre and Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, there is a single entrance.  However, The Kentucky Center has multiple entrances, and how you access the building depends on which theater you are visiting.

For Whitney Hall performances, the following entrances will be open (unless otherwise stated):

- The front doors at the top of the stairs (Main Street side)

- The Street Lobby (located next to the front stairs, Main Street side)

- The double elevators or stairs from The Kentucky Center Parking Garage

- Using the single elevator or stairs from The Kentucky Center Parking Garage

- The rear doors (Belvedere side)

For Bomhard Theater performances, the following entrances will be open (unless otherwise stated):

- The front doors at the top of the stairs (Main Street side)

- The Street Lobby (located next to the front stairs, Main Street side)

- The double elevators or stairs from The Kentucky Center Parking Garage

For MeX Theater performances, the following entrances will be open:

- The Street Lobby (located next to the front stairs on the Main Street side)

- The double elevators or stairs from The Kentucky Center Parking Garage

All patrons entering KPA venues will be required to undergo a brief security screening through a magnetometer or use of a handheld metal detector.

Bags will be searched before entering the facility.

Prohibited items include:

- Firearms, Weapons

- Illegal Drugs or Paraphernalia

- Audio/Video Recording Equipment

- Professional Grade Cameras

- Glass Objects

- Laser Pointers

- Selfie Sticks

- Outside Food or Drinks

- Backpacks, including drawstring

- Large duffle bags

- Animals that do not provide a service or task, as defined under the ADA are prohibited

*KPA will not provide storage

We are working to make your visit to our venues as contactless as possible.

Modifications include:

- Touchless Restroom Upgrades

- Encouraging cashless transactions at Parking Garages/Lots, Box Offices, Merchandise Kiosks, and Bars

- Mobile Ticket

- Touchless Ticket Scanning Practices

- Self-service Audience Magazine program distribution stations

- Daily sanitization of Audio Description/Assistive Listening Receivers

- Daily sanitization of wheelchair rentals

- Touchless Hand Sanitization Units

Since everything cannot be touchless, we encourage all guests, staff, and volunteers to wash their hands frequently or to use the hand sanitizer stations located throughout our venues.

You can anticipate that KPA Employees and Volunteers will be required to obtain COVID-19 vaccination, or undergo regular testing for the coronavirus prior to your arrival. Individuals feeling ill will not be permitted to work. Employees will be trained on the correct use of PPE. Proper hygiene training will be provided as well.

If capacity restrictions and social distancing protocols are in place at the time of your visit, we are mapping out traffic flow patterns from patron arrival to departure to minimize contact with others. Contact tracing procedures including designated/assigned points of entry will also be a part of our scenario planning.

Please know that some performance cannot perform in reduced capacity settings. If your performance is impacted by a cancelation or schedule modification you will be notified, and an exchange or refund will be processed.

Select patron accommodations and venue amenities will be suspended or changed while operating in a post-pandemic environment.

-SCENE at the Center will not offer full menu options inside The Kentucky Center facility.

-Full drink selections will not be available at all beverage points of sale.

-Binocular and booster seat rentals may not be available at your event. 

-Coat check services may not be available at your event. 

-Additional amenities may be made unavailable with limited notice to patrons and clients. 

Amenities will be reinstated as evaluated and at the sole discretion of KPA.

We want to create an environment that is welcoming to everyone. However, if you are not feeling well on the day of your visit, please stay home. Contact our box office at (502) 584-7777 and KPA and its presenting partners will do everything we can to assist you with ticket exchanges, performance vouchers, and refunds. Please stay at home and take care of yourself!

You play an important role in helping bring live entertainment to our venues. We thank you for your continued support, understanding, and enthusiasm.

Enjoy the show!

Special thanks to Norton Healthcare, the official healthcare partner for

Kentucky Performing Arts venues.

COVID-19 Warning:

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that may result in personal injury, severe illness, and death. By visiting Kentucky Performing Arts venues or attending Kentucky Performing Arts shows, events, education programs/classes or other activities, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. All visitors must follow Kentucky Performing Arts’ health and safety protocols.

Please help keep each other safe.

QUESTIONS?  We are here to help!  Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Protocols may be adjusted without notice in accordance with guidelines from government and public health officials.