Dressing up to go to the theatre? — Page 2

I dress to be comfortable but I put on my very best behavior because I love Broadway, and want to express my appreciation to the theater people who are working so hard to do well.

Lately, I've been wearing nice jeans, a spiffy sweater, and dress sneakers/boots. But I usually go to matinees where the overall dress code is usually more lax. I think if I was attening a Saturday night show, I might be inclined to dress up more. I also usually take public transportation into the city and have to do a bit of walking to the theater. Sorry, but a skirt and high heels in 30 degree weather just is not happening! Summer time maybe.

I agree that as long as you are presentable and don't disrupt my viewing, I don't care much.

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Why can't people dress well AND behave? That disclaimer shouldn't even have to be made - the old "I don't care what they're wearing as long as they behave well."

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Depends on the dressing up and the show. I feel no guilt whatsoever about (clean and hole-free) jeans and (clean and well-fitting) t-shirt for a matinee or something like 'Avenue Q'. I have a smart/casual wardrobe for my theatre-going; for some shows, I'll bust out the smart trousers and dress shirt, but most of the time it'll be fitted t-shirt with trousers, or dress shirt with nice jeans. I always wear boots rather than trainers even though I live in my trainers the rest of the time. I've got a lovely dress I plan on wearing when I see 'Follies' in concert in a couple of weeks, and I'm planning on veering more towards the smart side of smart/casual when I'm next in New York.

Obviously, it is TOTALLY the people who behave well who respect the theatre more and clothes have nothing to do with it. But personally, I like to dress up a little more for shows that seem to command a little more respect. I did dress shirt/trousers for John Doyle's 'Amadeus' last year because it's my favourite play and it was a limited run. Just because it was in a semi-derelict music hall far away from Theatreland didn't mean I was going to dress like a slob, and I'll most likely wear similar when I see 'Antony And Cleopatra' in a couple of weeks. But like I say, that's a personal thing I like to do and I don't expect everyone else to do it, as long as my enjoyment of the production is unhindered. :3

There's a kind of dressing up that NEEDS to be avoided. Please please please please PLEASE do not paint yourself green when you go to see 'Wicked'. No capes, no pointy hats, no green flesh! It's tacky and embarrassing. Do what you will for 'Rocky Horror' or even 'Evil Dead' or ANY of the Sing-a-long-a shows, but NEVER do fancy-dress for a show that doesn't want your audience participation. Ew ew ew ew ew. XP

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Updated On: 1/22/07 at 01:53 PM

What's the verdict on little kids dressing up to go see Beauty and the Beast? I bumped into a little girl in a Belle dress waddling around Times Square with her family.

It's Disney and it sounds cute, so it doesn't count.

Anyone older than 9 turning up in a yellow ballgown though - just no.

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I usually wear dress pants but then Im not the biggest fan of jeans anyways.

I don't really care what other people wear although it would be nice if everyone dressed up for the theater. What I wear really depends on the show. FOr example, I would wear nice pants and a button down shirt to Les Miz or Grey Gardens, but a polo shirt and kakies (sp?) to Spelling Bee or Rent. I agree with everone else, though, who said that behavior takes priority over dress.

"Dressing Up" whatever that exactly means...I'm not sure, but I'm sure that keeping theatre as elitist and intimidating as possible only keeps people away.

Frankly, if I'm paying $100 a pop for a ticket.. the only people who should be dressed in a certain way are the actors.

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Updated On: 1/22/07 at 02:36 PM

My sister and I have this discussion every time we see a show together. I feel that casual (nice casual) is ok for matinees, but for evening shows I feel like I should dress up some. Notice I don't say that I want to dress up--I hate dressing up!--but I feel like I should. Now, that said, when I say "dress up" I'm just talking slacks and a nicer shirt. Occasionally I will wear nice jeans but only if they are paired with a really nice top and nice shoes. And that is usually when my sister nudges me enough saying that she wants to wear jeans and won't feel right if she's in jeans and I'm not. I see shows fairly often (sometimes one or more a week, sometimes one a month) and I still put forth an effort to look as nice as possible.

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I often go to shows right from work, so I'm "dressed up" since my office has a somewhat professional dress code. If I go on a weekend it really depends on what show I'm going to and what else I have planned for the day, but I always try to look well put together, whether I'm wearing dress pants & heels or dark jeans & boots. Obviously it doesn't bother me if people wear jeans to the theater, since I do so myself. But it does bother me when people look like slobs. At least put on jeans without holes in them and comb your hair.

I go the theatre at least once a week. Often I have to rush home from school to shower and change and then I get public transport - about an hour's journey - into the city, and it's the same hot, uncomfortable journey on the way back.

Therefore I'm going to dress comfortably, no matter what people think about theatre etiquette.

I have friends who feel alienated from the theatre as if it's something that isn't "for them", partly because of the idea that theatre is for rich people who dress up. What would Brecht say about the idea that people who wear jeans to the theatre are slobs?