‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ to return to full in-studio audience in June

Stephen Colbert is getting his crowd back.

The “Late Show” host will welcome back a full audience to the Ed Sullivan Theater for the June 14 show, his first in-person audience since March 16, 2020, CBS announced Monday.

“Over the last 437 days, my staff and crew (and family!) have amazed me with their professionalism and creativity as we made shows for an audience we couldn’t see or hear,” Colbert said in a statement. “I look forward to once again doing shows for an audience I can smell and touch.”

The time has come! https://t.co/LRxNR0Y5Go

— A Late Show (@colbertlateshow) May 24, 2021

Guests will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against coronavirus before entering the theater, but face masks will be optional, in compliance with state guidelines. Staff and crew members will continue regular covid-19 testing and screening.

Colbert was the first late night host to return to the air after last spring’s shutdown. He temporarily worked from home in South Carolina, then returned to a mostly empty Ed Sullivan Theater in August.

Last week, he welcomed his first in-person guest in more than a year, actor John Krasinski, to promote “A Quiet Place Part II.”

“Saturday Night Live” also returned to a full, live audience this weekend for its season finale, while “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” has been using limited capacity audiences since March.