superstitions
superstitions
hedwig14
Leading Actor Joined: 9/6/04
#1re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:34pm
Whistling in the theatre: A lot of early stagehands and flymen were originally sailors, who would communicate to each other with whistling in re: cues prior to the advent of headsets. Whistling in a theatre could get a sandbag dropped mistakenly on someone. Very bad luck.
Ghostlight: Put out at the end of the night so that the theatre never goes dark.
Hamlet's father.
hedwig14
Leading Actor Joined: 9/6/04
#2re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:34pm
I'm not even remotely "religious" but if I don't make the sign of the cross 3 times after hearing an ambulance I'm positive I'll be hit by a car or fall and hit my head and die.
That's normal, right?
#4re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:35pmObviously you don't live in NYC - you'd have time for nothing else.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#6re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:44pm
Definetly, no whistling in the theatre.
Besides, it creeps me out for some reason when i'm in a theatre alone with one other person and they start whistling.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
hedwig14
Leading Actor Joined: 9/6/04
#7re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:48pmCorrect Rathnait, I live in Southern California-still a hotbed for sirens, though.
#8re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:51pmEven though I love the place, I can't stand to be in my theatre when it's near deserted. It used to be an Arsenal/Armory in the old days... and is haunted by the ghost of a nurse who died while tending to soldiers who were dying in a cholera epidemic.
Hamlet's father.
#9re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 2:42pmMy theater is haunted too. It used to be a church and the main stage is built over the baptismal pool. When it's quiet, you can hear voices murmuring prayers. It's kind of freaky. I have no problem with ghosts, as stated in the ghost thread, but I don't like this at all. Something doesn't feel comfortable about it so, I imagine there must a disturbed presence there. I won't go up into the main theater alone.
http://www.danperezgallery.com
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#10re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 2:43pmYou are not supposed to say the name of Shakespeare's Scottish king in the theater. The "M" word is taboo.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#11re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 2:45pmGotham, I found that out as a youngun in the theater biz - I said the word in Pauline Collins's dressing room, and she sent me out and made me do a funky ritual to get back in!
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#12re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 2:51pm
Aside from the M play, I don't have any. But, boy, you do not take chances with that one.
My freshman year, before our last show of "Peter Pan" a couple of smartass techies ran around the theater literally shouting the evil word as they went, and all hell broke loose: Our backup Tinkerbell burned out before curtain (we had to use a spotlight, so Tink was quite bloated), the nursery window wasn't closed properly before it flew out, so it hit something on the way up and one side broke off, a kid almost fell into the pit during a scene, a girl got hit on the head with a batten during another scene change...
So never doubt the power of the M word!!
http://community.livejournal.com/ltd_brands_suck/
ken adams
Chorus Member Joined: 12/14/04
#13re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:31pmdont put your shoes on top of a table. i had never heard of this one, then backstage, i put my shoes on the dressing room table and another cast member was like "you shouldn't do that...bad luck". i scoffed...then during that performance i got hit in the head with a pole, very hard. i was wearing the shoes. (cue the creepy music)
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#14re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:37pmRath, cool!! I love Pauline Collins. Great actress.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#15re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:38pmsaing you kno what that starts with a mic and enrs with a beth
#16re: superstitions
Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:50pm
Rose- Everyone at my school does that because they know I am paranoid about it.
Before every show I make sure I have told every person in cast and tech 'good show"
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
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