You may have seen the TikTok video from early January of a man yelling “You want to make a scene? I’m going to make a scene” in the middle of intermission at a Broadway performance of “Mamma Mia.” The man called security on a few women sitting behind him because they were singing during the show.
Right before this, in November, I was subjected to something similar. I went to a musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, a place I have attended on multiple occasions, but this time was different. Part of the experience is that if you don’t have enough friends and family to fill a table, you will be sitting with strangers for the duration of your time there. One man sitting at my table continued to talk loudly at various intervals while the show was going on.
This is not my first experience with a noisy theater-goer, and it certainly won’t be my last. But I would be remiss not to say that people’s blatant disregard of etiquette concerns and disappoints me.
I don’t pretend to know anything about being a performer; my seventh grade stage debut as a maiden in “Mulan Junior” didn’t prepare me enough for that. But I do know that it takes hours and hours of practice and preparation for the actors, musicians, directors and everyone else involved in a stage production to put on the perfect show. Someone trying to speak the lines for the actors is just rude and unnecessary.
Also, please do not sing during the show. Just like the man at “Mamma Mia” claimed, it’s distracting to other patrons, especially those who may not know the songs yet. I love that people have favorite musicals and know all of the words, but this is not a concert. It’s not fair to the performers, and it’s not fun to sit next to someone who does this because it takes the focus off the show.
Theater attendees used to dress nicely, too. Going to the theater was a treat, something people would save up money for and consider a special occasion, and it still is. But nowadays, I see people wearing leggings and sweatshirts to performances, whereas before, they’d be in dresses and suits. I don’t think it’s difficult to at least put on a nice shirt and a pair of jeans.
The way you dress reveals the way you want to experience the world around you. At the theater, dressing nice makes you seem put together and like you want to be there. I also think it’s just fun to put on cute outfits every so often.
Dressing like you would in everyday life looks like you can’t be bothered to put in effort. It’s disrespectful to those who have spent months, maybe even years of their life getting ready to perform for you. Show them that you care.
Another thing I’ve noticed recently is patrons getting up and leaving the theater mid-show. Many performances have intermissions; use these wisely. There is no reason for you to miss out on what you paid for because you didn’t use the bathroom before the show began. And make sure you stay for the second half of the production; some shows appear to be over when the lights flicker back on, but after a 15-minute break, there will be a second act that you won’t want to miss.
In the same vein, don’t be late. Check what time the doors open — usually half an hour before the start of the performance. It’s better to arrive early, find your seat and leaf through the program for a few minutes than to be the reason heads swivel toward the back and an usher shines a flashlight around to see the numbers on the seats.
Do not take photos. That is illegal. Don’t take videos, either. What minimal earnings you may make from the bootleg you uploaded to YouTube is not worth being sued over. Turn off your phone, too, so that it doesn’t go off and you’re not even tempted to pull it out.
Whether you’re going to Broadway in New York, the West End in London or any theater around the world, etiquette is important. Treat the space and the performers with respect; it’ll make your time there so much more enjoyable.
Bridget Schmid can be reached at schm1520@stthomas.edu.
