Dressing up to go to the theatre? — Page 5

I think we all just have to realize it's a sign of the times. Once upon a time, it was expected of all to go dressed up to the theatre. If that was still the case, I'm sure many of us who wear jeans and such to the theatre would not. But that has changed. It has become "acceptable" to attend the theatre in jeans and such. So with that in mind, of course people who don't like to dress up are not going to. Though one may argue that is because theater has become less of a special event, I personally think it has more to do with the trend of younger people going to shows. I mean, most of the older folks who attend shows still dress up.

There still are times and places though. I mean, when I went to Phantom's record-breaking performance, there was a father and son there in jeans. I swear, they were the only ones in the whole theatre dressed as such. When I attend events like that--opening nights, special benefit performances, etc--THAT'S when I make sure to dress up.

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I was raised going to the theatre often and I always dress up. It's a nicer exzperience for me and for everyone else, and it is an occasion, even if you do it frequently. It's a little special.

I also dress up to go to church.

I personally always dress up for the theatre, because it's not exactly a dime-a-dozen experience for me right now. But I don't really care what others wear, because you never know what they were doing before. I was in SF, and my uncle surprised me by saying we were seeing Spelling Bee in a couple of hours, and I couldn't go change. I was wearing corduroys and flip-flops, which I would never wear to a theatre normally.

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I always dress up when I go to the theatre. Even if it's a high school show I look nice. When I went to see Rent and Les Miz, I was in kakis and a button down with a tie and blazer. I think people should dress up more when they see shows. I remember seeing two people in t-shirts and jeans at the Nederlander and thinking they looked trashy and out of place. I will always look classy.

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"Whenever I see someone dressed up at the theater- I assume they are tourists- and usually I'm right."

Hardly! I dress up for regional theatre in my hometown too. Going to the theatre is like going to church for me...except I don't like church and haven't been in years.

Really- what does it matter what you wear to the theater. It's not church (if people dress up for that, I don't know); you're going somewhere to be entertained- that's it.

I'm curious as to why people think that there should be an unsaid dress code. Is it to make the theater experience that much more elitist and exclusive?

Is it that after paying $100 for a seat- you want to feel that you're somewhere more special than a movie theater, and therefore people's clothing should reflect that- and by wearing jeans with a hole in it someone is disturbing your experience?

I understand the idea of it being a special night for people and that's why they dress up- but to have this idea that other people are underdressed is so odd to me.

"What does that mean, sitting onstage? Not literally, right?"

Yes, you do literally sit on the stage. It's only in one show though, which is Spring Awakening. They offer a limited number of seats on the stage for the audience.

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BUMP

So I know the attire question has been constantly asked, BUT wondering if shorts and a nice shirt would be okay for Patti LuPone's solo concert?

Updated On: 1/4/11 at 03:08 PM

Thanks, over the summer when I see shows I typically wear shorts and fall/winter jeans, but I was wondering if this was different, especially for LuPone and with my local crowd being a bit different than the Broadway people.

Thank you so much for bumping this thread! I had no idea I was such a self-righteous little prig four years ago, I've had some good laughs at myself!

You show your respect by your behaviour - sit down, shut up, turn off your phone, forego non-essential refreshment, don't smell, and show your appreciation appropriately. Your dress has NOTHING to do with it.

In fact, people who dress up to go to the theatre are more likely to wear lovely accessories, which means they're more likely to have armfuls of noisy bangles.

Jeans ahoy, chaps! For Broadway, the West End, and the Royal bloody Shakespeare Company! XD

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LOL Weez, when you said CHAPS I thought you meant the kind that I might've worn to The Eagle.

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Yeah, I'm one of the ones that doesn't dress up. If only because when I've been able to go to the theatre, it's been after wandering about in the city for most of the day and running out of time (or simply not planning ahead) to be able to change. That's not to say I'm going in ratty jeans and tasteless t-shirts, mind you.