Luggage in Theaters

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:07pm

What's the deal with luggage in theaters? My friend and I are going into the city tomorrow. He is going to take a Port Authority bus home, and we decided to catch a show before he leaves. He is going to have a backpack and a small duffel bag with some clothes and toiletries and stuff. Do theaters allow you to bring the luggage in as long as security checks it? Do they have a bag check to hold your luggage? It's not much at all...I didn't even think about it when buying tickets and am worried they are not going to let us inside the theater. What do they do? Thanks!

P.S. It's at the Lunt-Fontanne theater.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:17pm

They will probably look through it. When I saw SA they had someone at the door loking through things bigger than backpacks. It may be a tight squeeze but I am sure they will let him have the luggage.

[D2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:20pm

Do yourself a favor and check the luggage, either at the Port Authority or with the coat check at the Lunt-Fontanne. You will be much more comfortable during the show, and so will the people sitting next to you.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:20pm

I've brought luggage or shopping backs to a few shows. Bring it to the Coat Check and have some small cash for a tip when you go to pick them up.

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:36pm

the other week i had two HUGE suitcases with me and wasn't going to be able to get to my friends apt. until later and so just took it with me to go see Company and they were cool with it. It just got a little cramped and I got a few dirty looks bumping into them on the way out.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:39pm

It's nothing much...we were just concerned that they wouldn't let us into the theater period. Thanks.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 12:27am

Perhaps you could call the theater and see if they have a policy?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 12:54am

"I'm grabbin' my hat and coat.
I'm leaving the cat a note!
Quick, call me a ferry boat,
Gettin' Outta Town!"

That was the first thing that popped into my head.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 1:34am

yeah
Don't bring that stuff to the Theatre.

[BobPopa]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 1:37am

Check with the theater for sure. But ultimately if there is no policy it is the House Manager's call. Sorry but If I was the House Manager, I would not let your luggage in.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:37am

Hopefully they'll let you check your bags in. I can't think of many things more annoying than if my leg room and comfort was compromised because someone next to me was taking up all the room with luggage!

[Copeman63]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 9:15am

"Don't put condoms on your sister's car, that's TACKY."

But... if you must... Don't forget to tip the coat check. The only thing worse than checking something is making the person stay an hour longer for nothing. (At the Shubert Theatres it is unpaid...)

[ken8631]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:35am

I've been to theaters that wouldn't even let a small closed bag in (leftovers from restaurant, closed so it wouldn't smell), and they had no coatcheck! Had to go back to parking garge and tip guy to put in in our car... Check with the theatre first!

[avab802]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 1:47pm

Just FYI, Port Authority no longer has baggage storage. They stopped storing bags after 9/11 and have not re-opened it to my knowledge.

[CJR]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 1:50pm

They should allow it at coat check. I had tickets to Chicago one night when I was on my way home from a trip and there was no way I could get home to drop my suitcase and back to the theatre in time.... It was hefty in size, but they were able to check it for me. (this was at the shubert. not so sure about other theatres)

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:26pm

If you don't want to leave it in the coat check (because somemtimes it takes a while to get it at the end), you can go to a nearby hotel and store it in the luggage storage thing there. *I don't remember the "official" name of it.

Then when you pick it up, you tip them 1 or 2$ per bag and it's easy and quick.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:34pm

avab802 is right - there's no place to store stuff at Port Authority now.

Some hotels won't let you store bags unless you are checking it or out there. One thing I have done...because a late train meant I had no time to drop off two suitcases...was use the paid lockers in the lobby of Portland Square Hotel. You have to buy a token at the desk (it's a couple of dollars) and, really, it's only for hotel guests...but either they assume I am going to check in later or they're not fussy. Goodness knows, I've stayed there enough.

[pants2]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:58pm

well i've never been denied entry to a theatre but at les miz.... i had to stand on my bags in the back of the theatre..... while at sweeney tood i checked my bag

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 3:25pm

Definitely check your bags at the coat check. For a few dollars, it is easier that way. If there isn't a coat check, ask to see the house manager, who can always store your bags in the box office or their office. (Actually, when I saw people coming in with suitcases at the theatre I worked at, I would go up to them 1st and ask to store their bags for them. They were always very appreciative too.)

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:15pm

Again it was a small duffel and backpack...they let us in but had to check them, it was a tight squeeze but everything worked out well.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 9:05pm

When I was in the City over Thanksgiving, I had to carry my fairly large duffel bag with me to three shows on the days when I was catching the bus back home. Grey Gardens and Company weren't really a problem, because I was in the first row and had plenty of leg room. At Butley, which is at the quite small Booth, I was able to fit my bag under my seat with ample leg room left over. It was a little bit of a squeeze but not too bothersome. The Barrymore was the only theater that actually made me open my bag.