Older people at the theater

[Ellie3]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 10:29pm

Sometimes when I'm at the theater I look around and the rest of the audience is about two generations above me...why is that?
Do people become more interested in theater as they get older,
or are these people from a generation that always went to the theater throughout their life. If so, what will happen when they die? Seriously! Updated On: 10/28/04 at 10:29 PM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 10:32pm

Some of it must have to do with the shows you're seeing...the age gap you described is definitely not the case at many shows, such as Wicked, Brooklyn, etc.

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 10:33pm

For myself I can only say that I finally have the time to go to the theatre. I spent so many years working all day (and collapsing at night) that I never had the chance to just enjoy the theatre. Now I have the time, but no money. So I usher - a lot.

The theatre where I work has a LOT of senior subscribers. I think that in addition to having the time, most of them are also financially able to subscribe. Their mortgages are paid, the kids are grown and moved out, and now they can enjoy themselves at the theatre.

Updated On: 10/27/04 at 10:33 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 10:41pm

I think, not to generalize, but older audiences have a greater appreciation of the artistic merit, talent, etc. that goes into theatre.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 10:43pm

There are so many factors...

It depends on the types of shows you go to, and whether it's a revival or a new show. Revivals hold memories for people who were able to see memorable revivals, or the original casts, and wish to see if the magic is still there.

Older people also have more disposable income to be able to subscribe to the subscription based theatre companies (the Roundabout, Lincoln Center Theatre, the Atlantic, etc.). Or have more time to go.

The last question is a bit flippant, but theatre will go on. Theatre ultimately finds an audience. Most notably off-Broadway with younger audiences. Which also explains the prevalence of the past few years of shows originating off-Broadway before transferring, while also hoping to transfer that interest.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 11:33pm

They should be dead tomorrow. Wait and see.

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 11:35pm

Sunday matinees are FILLED with old people.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 11:37pm

"They should be dead tomorrow. Wait and see."

I just snorted with laughter. That's so crass. But this gerontology course on "Death and Dying" has really brought out my prejudice. hehehe

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 11:37pm

And Wed. mattinees are filled with children! Little stinky bratts! There were about a hundren of them walking out of the 42nd Street Theatre this afternoon.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 11:44pm

Children are the most wretched creatures. I saw a matinee of POTO a couple of months ago and every school in the district decided to take a field trip there and I was literally sandwiched between a class of fifth graders in the orchestra, not to mention the little bastards in the mezzanine, who actually "Oooooh"ed when the lights went down, and screamed when the gun shots rang out, etc.

Needless to say, the actors' energy was WAY down and that was one of the least pleasurable theatre experiences ever. And don't even get me started on the little brats with bladder problems who needed to crawl over me to excuse themselves every 10 minutes.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 11:48pm

That really is a problem when they have big groups of them. It really makes it impossible for the normal people to enjoy the show.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 12:17am

I dunno. There was a school group at the preview of Twelve Angry Men which I attended. They arrived right before curtain and were a bit noisy settling in, but as soon as the lights went down they didn't make a sound.

And of course there's going to be older people at matinees- retirees have free time in the afternoon.

[etoile]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:24am

I love the generalizations. Here's some more.

If I can withstand some 20 somethingish talking about how much they puked after a frat party Friday night I have no problem having a kid kicking my seat or an geriatric unwrapping a Werthers Original. But overall, give me the little bluehairs anytime. They're short and they don't carry cell phones.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:52am

They may not carry cell phones but generally the older generation are the worst for humming or singing along (often quite loudly), especially at shows like Anything Goes and The King and I etc. And the worst thing is, they don't seem to hear you when you ask them to be quiet!

There were also a couple that walked out of Bat Boy when I saw it. I don't think it was really their kind of show :)

[AbsolutKnight]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 8:13am

I think it is just a matter of common manners. Whether you are 10, 22, 30, or retired, people just need to realize that there are other people trying to enjoy the show.

When I saw Millie a year ago on tour I couldn't believe it when almost everybody in the audience was talking through the entire Overture! So rude!

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 9:26am

I saw a lot of older people at Avenue Q, and they seemed to really enjoy the show. Didn't expect that...

[Plum]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 9:42am

I was surprised by the number of adults and seniors going for the Avenue Q lottery all the times I tried, too. :)

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:23pm

do they think it's some innocuous cute puppet show?

Actually, the older people in the audience at Avenue Q thoroughly enjoyed the show, from what I could see.

Now, I don't see a lot of older people at Rent. Hmm...wonder why...

[Plum]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:28pm

There was a nice generational mix when I went to Avenue Q, and the audience response was very enthusiastic all around. It's a show I wouldn't mind taking my parents to in the least.

[kates]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:37pm

I hafta add that last Wednesday, my brother and I went to the matinee of Wicked, and it must have been an entire school district's day at the theater. While I think its wonderful that schools are exposing children to the arts, it was the most miserable theater experience I have ever had. I saw no teachers the entire time and the staff at the Gershwin looked like they wanted to shoot themselves. Some of these kids obviously didn't want to be there and were incredibly rude and tainted the experience for the entire audience. One kid walked in with a slab of ribs and a bottle of barbeque sauce (I am dead serious) and later when I smelled that wonderful aroma about 6 minutes into the show, there was no doubt that he decided to indulge in the middle of the production. However, I didn't notice any difference in the quality of the show, meaning the performance of the actors' themselves, which was possibly the only positive aspect of the experience.
Old people on the other hand...my grandmother lives in NY and subscribes to many different ticket programs, meaning she sees everything. I think one thing that adds to that generation's attendence is that (for her at least) they aren't working and they need something to do...

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 7:10am

really Plum? I don't think I'd ever take my parents to go watch the show...I'd blush.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 9:54am

Meh. My parents know full well what the show is about- they've heard the cast recording playing in my room and they think it's hilarious.

[sean martin]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 2:34pm

Okay, true story, I swear. When I lived in SF, my b/f and I used to go to this little rep movie house in Berkeley, the kind of place where the double bill changed every night. They were gonna do an evening of DEATH IN VENICE and CABARET, and we figured what the hell, let's go.

Only place we could find two seats together was behind these two elderly ladies: one was about 70, the other a bit older and wearing a hearing aid.

DEATH IN VENICE starts, and no sooner had it begun than the younger one turns to her companion and says, in a voice that could be heard for a few seats in every direction, "Venice.... Venice.... weren;t you in Venice?"

Five second pause.

"Venice... Venice... no, I dont think I was in Venice."

Another five second pause.

"I'm sure you were in Venice."

Yet another.

"No, I dont think so."

"Isnt that where you got that pretty ashtray for Cousin Naomi?"

Well, fortunately the audience had seen the film so no one got too upset - we were all actually laughing a bit - but the ushers came down, asked them to be quiet, and they were fine for the rest of the movie. Then CABARET starts, and the battery on the hearing aid went out, and it became an evening of:

"WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?"

"THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO BERLIN."

"OH.... WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?"

"THEY'RE SINGING A SONG!"

"OH."... all through the movie. It was actually hysterical. But then we get to the scene where Liza finds out that Michael York has been playing slide the sausage with Max.

"WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?"

(very hastily) "I DONT KNOW."

"IT MUST BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT; EVERYBODY'S LAUGHING!"

"I DONT KNOW. BE QUIET AND WATCH THE FILM!"

Oh God, we were dying to tell her what they said.........

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 3:04pm

I was at The Vineyard Theatre last night seeing a musical with a sung-through rock (real rock, not pop with a rock beat) titled People Are Wrong! written by two young writers and with among others, one of the singers fron They Might Be Giants. Another from that band was in the band.

The age of the audience was typical subscription age, that is 50+.

Where were the young people? Flaws and all, this show was years ahead of Brooklyn, yet there has been no mention of People Are Wrong! on this board that I have seen.

No one thought the show was perfect, far from it in fact, but most felt it was a good try which is a lot better than one usually gets. The audience stayed with the show and gave it a fair hearing.

And where will theatre be when my generation is dead? You'll be sitting at revivals of Mamma Mia!

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 3:36pm

I'm seeing the Immigrant on Wednesday with my grade. I hope it's good because if it isn't, my grade will go insane and bother everyone in the theater.