Save Our Stages: Legislation to support entertainment industry introduced in Pa.

PITTSBURGH — The entertainment industry has been put in a chokehold by COVID-19, so legislation has been introduced to get grants to those businesses.

Concert venues have been empty and closed for months. Workers say support is essential to keep them from going under.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Jake Wheatley introduced the Save Our Stages act, which has garnered strong co-sponsorship.

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The legislation earmarks CARES dollars so a fund can be created to get grants to businesses, such as the beloved City Theatre in Pittsburgh’s South Side.

A $200 million grant program is proposed by the legislation to help those impacted, including independent music venues, theaters, promoters and performers who have been out of work since the start of the pandemic.

Many of these businesses have had no revenue for seven months.

“We need to stay closed. We need to wait this out, but the reality is our business model can’t survive not being closed … not being able to put on shows, sell tickets. So, we have to find a way to get around it so on the other side of this crisis we can come back strong,” James McNeel, managing director of City Theatre, said.

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