Movie theaters can now reopen under a new “safe return” order issued by Gov. Tate Reeves, and The Grand Theatre in Hattiesburg plans a gradual reopening process with initial private screening opportunities.
Theaters were allowed to reopen under strict health and social distancing guidelines on June 1, but the Hattiesburg theater will not open its doors until June 5. Even then, it will not immediately open to the public, said Marketing Manager Amber Griffith.
According to Griffith, the theater will instead use private screenings as a trial run in order to ensure the safety of both customers and employees.
“We will not open to the public just yet,” she said. “That will be phase two for us. What we would like to do – and what we know we can safely do – is a private screening availability.”
The private screenings can have a max of 20 people for a cost of $100.
“Viewers can choose from a catalog of movies provided on The Grand’s website with showtimes from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.,” said Griffith. “The number of groups allowed to attend at once will be limited to avoid contact and overcrowding the concession stands.”
Griffith said the theater is slowly bringing back some of its staff as it begins the private screenings, which have been done successfully at The Grand’s Louisiana locations.
“We are bringing back some of our staff,” she said. “Of course, our general managers will be coordinating those efforts. The success of those private screenings will determine how many people we will be able to bring back. We have successfully done them at a few locations, and they have had great response.”
Griffith said every single auditorium will be disinfected following each screening, and employees will be required to wear masks.
Customers are encouraged to wear a mask but are not required to do so.
“We encourage our guests to wear masks. However, with the limited group size and the size of the auditorium, there is plenty of room for them to spread out and practice social distancing,” she added.
According to Griffith, there is no set date as to when the theater will reopen to the general public.
“Right now, we are working off of this first step, which we are calling phase one,” she said. “We are kind of figuring out the phases as well. We hope to reopen the theater, but it will be in some regulated capacity.”
