Dressing for the theater — Page 3

"Because it was the only show where I paid 500 bucks for a ticket. In comparison, I only paid 230 for Hamilton."

Wow, I paid under $100 for Hamilton (Labor day weekend 2015) and well under $200 for Hello Dolly. I am going to assume you got much better seats than me - lol. I am going to take this as you are more likely to dress up if you spend a lot of money on the ticket and it is the hot show in NYC.

I always wear slacks and a button down shirt, easy enough because it's my business casual 9-5 "uniform." I notice those who are in my opinion underdressed, but I care much more for their manners than their dress. Some have mentioned dressing up shows respect for the actors. I'd bet if you polled actors they'd say they want to see seats filled regardless of what people wear.

For those of you who usher, have you seen a correlation between more casual dress and a rise in bad manners, such as talking, getting up and down to use the restroom, texting and cell phone use, not following the no recording rule, etc.? When people consistently dressed better, were they more polite and respectful?

If you are showered and at least look presentable as in you took some time in picking out what you are going to wear, you should be good. I have yet to see someone at a broadway show with dirty clothes.

I don't know. I saw a show where a guy had a front row seat (and I'm guessing it wasn't rush) and was wearing a suit jacket. But when he took it off he had sweat stains and intense body odor that was a persistent distraction from the show. So... there's a balance? I think effort is good. I think it's more important to be conscious of other (I never wear perfume) rather than to try and avoid offending someone's delicate sensibilities by wearing sneakers.

This topic comes up quite a bit. I love to dress up. Among my group of friends, I am the one who is always the most dressed. They even tease me about it. I just like clothes. I do NOT dress to go to th theatre. It's just not practical. I ride MetroNorth into the city. I always make a day of it... lots of walking around. There is no way I could wear heels. There is also no way I'm going to lug an extra pair of shoes in my bag all day. When I saw Evan Hansen it was snowing, I had on jeans and my big clunky snow boots. In the summer, I might wear a sundress and sandals, but most of the time I wear jeans. Sometimes even distressed jeans! Theatre is for everyone-no matter what they're wearing. Our culture has become more casual overall, so of course that includes theatre. And I'm glad for it. I would not want to walk around Manhattan all day in heels and a dress.

"Precisely why I have worn cargo shorts to a Broadway show before (I guess I should head to the gallows now LOL), because when vacationing in NYC that is what's comfortable to walk around the city in for up to 12 hours in 80 degree weather and keep track of my belongings."

I wear cargo shorts on trips to NYC for most of the day in the summer, I just shower and change before going to a show. It is just what I feel comfortable with doing.

Updated On: 5/29/17 at 02:36 PM

I wear cargo shorts and a t-shirt/Hoodie almost every time I go to the theatre unless I'm going to an opening night show. I go and see way too many shows to sit there and be uncomfortable. I find that I'm almost always hot inside the theatres and a lot of the times seats have horrible leg room so add that to being uncomfortably hot and I'd rather stay home.

My phone is always shut off and I never annoy anyone around me with all the normal complaints from here. If they are annoyed with how I'm dressed then that is their problem.

yankeefan7 said: ""I am simply remembering the sense that something very special was happening that permeated the air when people treated going to the theater like an event. "

Just curious if anybody knows if people dress very casual going to the ballet or opera in NYC?

I can't comment on the ballet but there are all types at the opera. Some people take it as an excuse to break out the ballgowns, others wear what's fancy for them, and others dress casually. You can get variety regardless of the section, though of course things are more lax in the Family Circle than the Orchestra. But all you need to do is watch a Met Live in HD broadcast (at the beginning when they spy on the audience) to see that there's no uniformity. I've never really gone in the summer so I haven't noticed shorts or sandals. I have noticed... simple attire. Sneakers, sweaters... stuff that doesn't look that expensive or attractive but is still presentable more or less.

"I've never really gone in the summer so I haven't noticed shorts or sandals. I have noticed... simple attire. Sneakers, sweaters... stuff that doesn't look that expensive or attractive but is still presentable more or less. "

Thanks for the information, I was wondering since the ballet and opera used to have some people really dress fancy.

Quick question. Did the dress at shows start to become more casual once they started allowing food and drink into the show?

VintageSnarker said: "yankeefan7 said: ""I am simply remembering the sense that something very special was happening that permeated the air when people treated going to the theater like an event. "

Just curious if anybody knows if people dress very casual going to the ballet or opera in NYC?

I can't comment on the ballet but there are all types at the opera. Some people take it as an excuse to break out the ballgowns, others wear what's fancy for them, and others dress casually. You can get variety regardless of the section, though of course things are more lax in the Family Circle than the Orchestra. But all you need to do is watch a Met Live in HD broadcast (at the beginning when they spy on the audience) to see that there's no uniformity. I've never really gone in the summer so I haven't noticed shorts or sandals. I have noticed... simple attire. Sneakers, sweaters... stuff that doesn't look that expensive or attractive but is still presentable more or less.



"

I go to the opera fairly regularly. People do tend to dress a bit more formally/conservatively. But you do see people in casual dress.