BOSTON (WHDH) - A Boston music and arts venue is offering rapid COVID-19 testing before its shows — but it will cost audience members extra.

All employees and vendors at the Wang Theater are vaccinated and it requires audience members show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test in the past 72 hours. Home tests don’t count, but the theater is offering $30 rapid tests for people looking to take in a show that night.

Owners said the on-site testing takes 20 minutes and adds another layer of protection for guests.

“This is all about safety. I want my audiences to feel comfortable coming back to the shows.” said Joe Spaulding, CEO of the Boch Center, which manages the Wang Theater. “If the artist isn’t comfortable about coming back to the show and the audience isn’t comfortable coming back to the show – then we aren’t doing shows right? And that’s what we are in the business to do.”

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