Leaving the theater before the show is over

[kurt.perry41]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 6:48pm

I would like to take an opportunity to make a post regarding people leaving the theater before a show is over, I think this is literally one of the rudest things a patron can do. The first time I really experienced this was during how to succeed when Darren Criss was on. People were leaving before the 11 o'clock number, brotherhood of man. I was like "Seriously? You're literally leaving a full 10 minutes before the show is over to go wait in line at the stage door?" And now I'm hearing something similar regarding If/Then with Ms. Menzel, am I the only one his annoyed by this?

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 6:55pm

If youre leaving the show early cause you don't like it or are offended by it (as in Book of Mormon) I sorta get it. But if you're leaving the show early because you are going to the stagedoor?? That's just ridiculous. Why even bother going to the show. They are paying a lot of money to go see the star and they are taking away tickets from someone who wants to actually see the show, and not just the star. Honestly, don't buy the ticket just go stagedoor and don't see the show. I understand this causes a problem but why waist your money and take tickets away from someone who actually wants to see the show, and not just the star. Doesn't make sense to me.

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 7:06pm

"Honestly, don't buy the ticket just go stagedoor and don't see the show..."

Good idea, and then when stage doors are plugged up with autograph hunters who didn't see the show, that leaves the people who actually did to fight for a spot from some arrogant a$$hole at the barricade.

I'm a strong believer of ticket checks at stage doors.

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 7:06pm

*DOUBLE POST*

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 07:06 PM

[felipenor]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 7:07pm

I do agree it's rude, but they're not taking tickets from anyone. It's not like If/Then is sold out or anything.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 7:14pm

Even if they WERE sold out...they didn't take anything from anyone.

Yes, it's rude. I've only ever walked out of one show....and I did it at intermission. Unless I got suddenly ill at the theater, I could never justifying leaving during the performance. It's rude to the performers (althought they'd only notice a small section of the house with any clarity) but it's rude to any audience members near you whose focus you might be intruding upon.

I also don't understand leaving during the curtain calls. If you made it that far, be respectful of the performers EFFORT and stay.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 7:24pm

I have never left a show while the performance was taking place, but I've certainly left a number of them during intermission.

[Emma White]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 8:39pm

That's gross. Honestly. As someone who loves stagedooring, it's gross. And also unnecessary... when I saw Cinderella, on Carly and Fran's second night, I stayed for the entire show, through the curtain call, like any decent human being, then gathered my things and walked briskly to the stage door, and I was the first one there.

"I'm a strong believer of ticket checks at stage doors."
This so much. I had actually walked by the stage door of Cinderella the night before, and we saw Victoria Clark there, who is my idol. My best friend and I right away had this feeling, from the look on her face, that she would be out the next night, and he kept telling me to thank her for being such an inspiration, but I restrained myself, because I hadn't seen the show. And of course, she was out the next night. But we are not any more important than anyone else who is there, who payed for a ticket.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 8:42pm

I notice this WAY more at concerts than theatre (but all kinds of concerts--be they intimate shows or big rock stadium concerts.) People seem to be so worried about how long it will take to get their cars, etc, that they leave before the final song. I remember during Cher's never-ending Farewell tour, a middle aged couple left early and the woman said very drunkenly and loudly "I can't believe she didn't sing Believe..." Ummmmm, don't you think she might save that for the finale?

[Emma White]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 8:53pm

At Patti LuPone's concert in Burlington, the couple sitting next to me left during the encore.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 9:11pm

I think it's the epitome of rudeness. Especially since most of those running out want to be first on line to get their coats, their cars, first to hail a cab, etc. That's more important to them than showing respect to the actors.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 9:25pm

If I did not walk out on The Architecture Of Becoming, I will never walk out on anything.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 9:29pm

Like others I've left some shows at intermission.

I've come close to walking out on some shows without intermissions, but the handful of those where I've come that close I always seem to be trapped in the middle of a row and I didn't want to cause the scene of climbing over everybody else (though at at least two of those shows it wouldn't have surprised me if everyone else in the row decided it wasn't worth it to sit back down had I made them get up and just follow me out).

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 9:58pm

Children who leave shows early to stage-door should have their iPhones stomped on. They should also be barred from attending any future theater until they are grown up enough to understand that purchasing your ticket entitles you to sit in a seat and WATCH the show NOT GET AN AUTOGRAPH OR A SELFIE AT THE STAGE DOOR.

Older people who leave during the last scene or in the middle of the curtain calls should miss their trains or get flat tires on their ways back to the suburbs or, at the very least, their Depends should spring leaks.

Unless they leave at intermission because they hate it, please leaving a show before it ends irritate me.

Now let's move on to people who talk and/or text...

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 09:58 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:14pm

The OP would probably add "literally" to what you posted, PJ.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:16pm

My entire post was meant figuratively and not literally, with the exception of the part about the Depends.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:22pm

It's rude to everyone involved. Make no mistake, the cast DOES notice and hates those people. You can leave at intermission. That's pretty much it.

I can't believe anyone would leave early to go to the stage door but....those dicks shouldn't be able to buy theater tickets.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:25pm

Why did you have the thread with the lovely pictures deleted?

[kurt.perry41]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:39pm

No, No, when I said "literally" I meant "literally", I watched people stand up and leave a FULL TEN MINUTES before the curtain calls even began and I do think it is one of the MOST rude things a patron can do.

And if all you can contribute to the post is remarks regarding my use of the word "literally" then for the love of god restrain yourself, it's the most obnoxious thing on these boards.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:03pm

It’s really rude and annoying, not just to the cast, but to other audience members who have to stand up so these people can squeeze by. I hate seeing it, and if anybody tried it with me, I would not budge. Tonight at Cinderella, some people walked out during curtain, and a couple people walked out during Fran’s speech (same with Pippin last night) which I found very rude.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:09pm

"I hate seeing it, and if anybody tried it with me, I would not budge."

Normally, I would agree with you. However, a woman had to get by me during If/Then because she was green, doubled over, and looked like she was going to barf. That really is the only time it's acceptable.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:12pm

So many people exit DURING the BCEFA speeches and... really? REALLY. Really.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:13pm

I would say I'm against this, except both times I had standing room for Book of Mormon, I ended up with GREAT premium aisle orchestra seats after Hasa Diga Ebowai, after a couple stormed out upset.

"I'm a strong believer of ticket checks at stage doors."

As long as the ticket doesn't have to be for that night, I'm fine with that. I had a friend in town when we did standing room for Bette's show, so I left and we grabbed drinks after. A week or so later, I went down, bought a poster, and had Bette sign it. I've never stagedoored a show I didn't already see, and in nearly 3 years now, I think Bette is the sole time that has happened...

"So many people exit DURING the BCEFA speeches and... really? REALLY. Really."

Again, it depends. I grew up 3 hours outside of NY and the last bus out was at 11. So, sometimes, it would be a bit of a dash...

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 11:13 PM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:18pm

I first noticed almost a mass exit during bows when first visiting Broadway back in the 80s-felt like I was the only person left applauding. Later learnt that people were rushing for the subway. People anticipating the end of a movie thinking it was all about to be wrapped up then stopping, wherever, as the film had a false ending. Why the need to be first out the door?

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:19pm

I mean, I just find it rude to leave when a person I standing on stage giving a speech, just wait till it's over, they are almost always pretty short.