The Cineplex Galaxy theatres will reopen to the public on Thursday with 30% capacity.--NEWS PHOTO KELLEN TANIGUCHI
ktaniguchi@medicinehatnews.com@@kellentaniguchi
Hatters can enjoy popcorn and a movie in the theatre again Thursday as Stage 2 of Alberta’s reopening plan comes into place.
Galaxy Cineplex in the Hat will be open at 30% capacity with all COVID-19 enhanced cleaning protocols still in place, says Kristy Woodside, the theatre’s general manager. She adds she and everyone else are excited to open up.
“We’re really excited. Everyone can’t wait to get back to work,” she said. “We’re looking forward to seeing new faces, familiar faces and getting to do what we love, which is pop popcorn and watch movies,” she said.
Woodside says physical distancing measures, concession line stickers, contactless payments, reserved seating and staggering showtimes are some protocols in place to keep both guests and staff safe.
“You will have to buy tickets, either online or at our POS and the way our POS is set up you can buy up to five seats together and you’ll be physically distanced from all the other guests around you and once the seats are picked, they’re not available for anyone else,” said Woodside.
When Hatters line up to catch a film opening night they can watch A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, In the Heights, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Spirit Untamed or Spiral: From the Book of Saw, she says.
With 67 per cent of Albertans aged 12+ with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the province is just a three per cent vaccination rate away from starting the countdown to the final stage of the reopening plan, which would allow more people into theatres.
For now, Cineplex is excited to open its doors back to Albertans.
“We recognize the new appreciation our guests have for the theatrical experience and we can’t wait to welcome them back to our theatres, as nothing compares to the big screen and big sound that we’ve been missing for so long,” said Sarah Van Lange, Cineplex’s executive director of communications in a news release.
“We continue to prioritize health and safety measures to ensure that our theatres are a safe, relaxing and inviting space for movie-lovers to escape with family and friends.”
