The Palace Theatre to return to live shows starting July 30

In a bit of scheduling serendipity, The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will reopen to live audiences with a July 30 visit from The Happy Together Tour.

Marking its 11th year of national touring, the show is headlined by The Turtles and features other hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s, including The Association, Mitch Ryder, The Buckinghams, The Classics IV and The Cowsills.

As a group, the acts account for dozens of Billboard Top 40 hits.

The Palace will host more than 60 shows through the end of the year, said April Kopas, CEO of Westmoreland Cultural Trust, which operates the theater.

“We have heard many comments about how excited people are to experience live music once again. Not only have the overwhelming majority of shows been rescheduled, but we are continually adding new shows weekly to the lineup,” she said. “Pre-covid, the theatre’s yearly impact to the community was more than $10 million, so we are elated that the opening will bring guests back to downtown Greensburg to dine, lodge and shop, assisting local businesses that were also affected by pandemic.”

“With vaccination rates increasing and the covid-19 transmission rate decreasing, the Trust is eager to return to hosting live, indoor performances with enhanced safety and security measures in place,” Kopas added.

The performance schedule includes other venerable names in rock and pop music, such as Gordon Lightfoot, Air Supply, The Guess Who, Tommy James and the Shondells, REO Speedwagon, original members of The Monkees and Jethro Tull and others.

Also visiting The Palace will be country stars like Travis Tritt and Trace Adkins and tributes to music legends like Queen, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, The Bee Gees and others.

Comedy returns with Cheech & Chong, Chonda Pierce and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

“A few of the shows are sold out or only (have) single tickets available, but there are plenty of shows with tickets remaining,” said Jennifer Benford, the Trust’s director of marketing and development.

A complete list of shows and ticket information is available on the theater website.

Health and safety

Among new health and safety protocols being instituted prior to the first official live performance are:

• Upgrade of the HVAC system to include CDC-recommended Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation to kill airborne pathogens. The UV-C decontamination lamp system will deliver high-output ultraviolet energy to irradiate coils and destroy mold, bacteria and viruses. The lamps will be installed the week of July 5, with funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

• Increase of the theater’s air circulation rate has been increased, with a minimum of 15% outside air intake, ensuring the ventilation system is operating to full design capabilities in accordance with CDC filtration guidelines.

• Use of an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer to sanitize and decontaminate theater seats and large areas. The Victory VP200ESK Professional Sprayer system uses electrostatic technology to evenly coat and provide disinfection directly to surfaces and hard-to-reach areas. Touchless application reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

• Addition of metal detectors. The multi-zone PMD2 Plus Elliptic detectors, purchased with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development, permit guests to pass through while holding loose pocket items, eliminating the need for high-touch surfaces such as baskets or bins.

Bags under 16-by-16-by-8-inches will be permitted but will be subject to search. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early to allow extra time for the screening process.

With lifting of the mask mandate, face masks will be optional for guests fully vaccinated against covid-19. Masking is recommended for those who are unvaccinated, due to the duration of shows and close proximity to others, while in the lobby, theater and other public spaces.

Signs throughout the theater will remind guests to social distance when possible, wash hands frequently and use touch-free hand sanitizer stations in the main lobby, Megan’s Suite and Upper Megan’s Suite.

More information on enhanced protocols also can be found at thepalacetheatre.org.