Paris Theatres Reopen With Positive Messages and Increased Security

Paris' 1864 Bataclan Theatre, the scene of Friday night's mass shooting during a concert by the California rock group Eagles of Death Metal, remains closed indefinitely, but the city's other theatres are open again, after being ordered closed by the French cabinet. Increased security measures are being put into place and positive messages have been released, ensuring audience safety.

The Paris production of CATS has left a message on its website that translates as:

"Dear spectators, dear viewers, CATS performances resume Tuesday, November 17. Security checks are implemented. Theatre Doors open one hour before the start of each session. We advise you to arrive early in order to facilitate such checks. In accordance with the terms and conditions, any request for cancellation or postponement will be taken into account. It is important that we continue our work and share positive emotions among our public. Thank you for your loyalty, we wish you a good show."

Jean-Luc Choplin, director of the Théâtre du Châtelet where Broadway's AN AMERICAN IN PARIS had its world premiere, issued the following statement:

"We are in union with the Bataclan. We had doubled the security these past months, but we have to reenforce it again. And we'll spend the time required for this. Today where there is no show, there is no stage building either, or rehearsal, so that no one is allowed to enter in the theatre. We'll carry on: it is imperative to reassure the public, so it can come again in the theatres. These places are tools for peace, because we can share happiness, be together, think, feel emotions, in light or darker mood. The theatres are citizens. They'll have to be even more now. The Châtelet welcomed 10,000 students. We may have to double that amount because it is in the sharing and in the artistic education that hatred are defused. People need to have faith in their theatres."

In New York, The Broadway League's website posts this message from it's president, Charlotte St. Martin :

"Broadway is a community and we work together very closely on the safety and security of our theatregoers and employees. In all emergencies impacting security, we closely coordinate our efforts with the NYC Police Department and the Security personnel of the Times Square Alliance. Individual theatre responses are activated as necessary based upon the direction given by the NYC police and the specifics of the situation. Broadway has extensive security procedures in our theatres and in the theatre district with the primary purpose of protecting our theatregoers while attending our productions."