"Reasons To Be Pretty" texting stunt

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:07pm

Thoughts on this? (see the BWW article) My personal feeling is that it's a REALLY BAD IDEA. Anything that encourages people to use their phones in a theatre is not good. Or is it a "if you can't beat em, join em" kind of thing, figuring that if people are going to text anyway, it might as well be related to the play.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:08pm

Stupid.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:09pm

Many shows do this now. Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde,

[JazzSquare55]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:11pm

Gross.

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:13pm

wow I had no idea this was done in other shows. (haven't seen a musical in a while, just straight plays) I still think it's not a great idea, for any show. The more phone use is made acceptable, the more problems there will be, imho.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:14pm

Legally Blonde does it?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:14pm

Well, in a show like ROCK OF AGES, if a cell phone goes off, a) who's gonna hear it and b) who's gonna care?

At "reasons to be pretty" on the other hand...

[JazzSquare55]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:17pm

What about LEGALLY BLONDE, Yankee?

Please explain that..

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:17pm

It was the "text during intermission for the chance to win..." whatever. Same as ROCK OF AGES.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:18pm

Chance to win what? I saw Blonde 4 times and never remember that.

[JazzSquare55]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:20pm

LOL.

same.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:24pm

Mamma Mia! does it.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:33pm

I think it's a great idea.

And for those who don't think it's a great idea, maybe take a look at the show's weekly grosses and ask: "What've they got to lose?"

I'm taking a look at the ratings-results from the past few days, and noticing a trend. People are generally giving themselves a higher rating than their neighbor. While I'm not surprised, I have a theory: Texters in general seem to be tech-savvy individuals (younger) while theatre-goers in general seem to be older white blue-hairs (who don't text, therefore, aren't taking part in the poll). Make your own conclusion.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:41pm

Pretty insulting for the actors and the play itself, I think. Texting DURING a performance is just out of line.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:53pm

Is it like what Passing Strange did?

[cglaid]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 6:44pm

I remember at Passing Strange you could enter to win a soundtrack or a window card I believe?

What do they win for reasons to be pretty?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 7:16pm

I don't believe that Legally Blonde or Rock of Ages, asks you to "rate" the stranger sitting next to you, though.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 8:46pm

While I think its stupid to encourage people to have their phones on during the show, I actually think this is pretty interesting.

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 4/30/09 at 3:10pm

They ask you to text in PRIOR to the show and THEN turn off your cell phone. They're not asking you to text DURING the show.

And they still remind you to turn off your cell phone at the top of the show :)

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/30/09 at 3:15pm

Love it. It totally relates to the themes of the play, and they announce multiple times before curtain and before intermission ends to turn your phone back off, so I don't think it's an issue.

[sgv123]

Posted: 4/30/09 at 3:18pm

Legally Blonde gave away the cast recording.