Scene at Mamma Mia!

[mitchern]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 2:56pm

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1q3fcv8/guy_went_absolutely_ballistic_on_the_people/

oof. 

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 3:21pm

mitchern said: "https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1q3fcv8/guy_went_absolutely_ballistic_on_the_people/

oof."

I've seen video of Patti LuPone do the same thing. Why "oof"?

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 3:24pm

Starts up with the oof? They were being obnoxious. They were singing during g the show. They couldn't take a hint. Someone had to tell them what was up. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 4:29pm

the issue with jukebox musicals is that people think they're allowed to sing-along. I've seen it at almost everyone I've been to(Mamma Mia, A Beautiful Noise, Jersey Boys, The Cher Show...).

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 4:44pm

FWIW i think these one off posts don't need new threads gumming up the front page... just put it in the main musical thread... 

[THDavis]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 5:06pm

It may seem “community theatre” at first blush, but why does a human never come out to address the audience before a show? “Welcome, no cell phones, no pictures, no singing along - please be considerate to your other patrons and performers.” 
 

A human generally holds more gravity than a pre-recorded announcement that most people disregard like an airline safety video. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 5:27pm

That man is awesome since we all know how completely awful holiday audiences can be. Know the rules or stay home. The end.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 5:33pm

The man is awesome!

 Those “I-can-do-whatever-I-want-this-is-America” people should get a mirror first 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 6:04pm

this guy seems to lose it a little but he quickly calms down and hes of course 100% in the right. 

the real question is whether the house staff stepped in and told those woman to shut their mouths during the performance. ushers are understandably quick to police use of phones/recordings, but i wish theyd spend just as much time shutting down conversation and, lord help us, sing-along. 

[Poconopanther]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 7:44am

I’m guessing no one will agree with me, but I don’t believe individuals should ever attempt to police others.  Instead,  get up…go find the house manager, and return to your seat. When did it become okay to scream at groups of people? It could have let to a disaster. I could imagine people not knowing what was happening rushing the exits and possibly hurting themselves or others. I believe the screaming man should have been removed, and the patrons in that section asked to enjoy the show quietly.

Broadway shows are expensive!  I’ll bet few at the Wintergarden that evening enjoyed the show…and doubtfully will return to Broadway as who among us wants a crazy man to scream at them, because we are not acting in a way HE felt acceptable?. We, the people that love Broadway, need to try to figure out how to cultivate audiences, grow attendance, keep everyone safe, and still enjoy the show.

Let’s not praise the crazy guy, or the off key singers, or the House Manager (who has a very rough job). Let’s just try our hardest to enjoy the show. 


 

 

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 8:43am

THDavis said: "It may seem“community theatre” at first blush, but why does a human never come out to address the audience before a show? “Welcome, no cell phones, no pictures, no singing along - please be considerate to your other patrons and performers.”


A human generally holds more gravity than a pre-recorded announcement that most people disregard like an airline safety video."

I suspect that the production may not want to discourage singing along. It drives me nuts but I’m not the target audience for juke box musicals. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 8:44am

THDavis said: "It may seem“community theatre” at first blush, but why does a human never come out to address the audience before a show? “Welcome, no cell phones, no pictures, no singing along - please be considerate to your other patrons and performers.”

A human generally holds more gravity than a pre-recorded announcement that most people disregard like an airline safety video."

Here’s the thing - the ushers do that, but in their individual sections (while doing many other things). There is really no “getting attention” of anyone when they do that. It seems like theatres are more afraid of setting limits with patrons. Even the pre-show announcements on the overhead/God mic seem to be happening less and less.

Honestly, it’s making me wish that Broadway had its own proprietary version of the Yondr pouch. Ever since they started using those for certain shows, I’ve always found it to be a wonderful thing

[ImAProphet]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 10:02am

THDavis said: "It may seem“community theatre” at first blush, but why does a human never come out to address the audience before a show? “Welcome, no cell phones, no pictures, no singing along - please be considerate to your other patrons and performers.”


A human generally holds more gravity than a pre-recorded announcement that most people disregard like an airline safety video."

They did this at How I Learned to Drive at MTC back in 2022. They sent one of the actors out, he did a short, funny monologue about it, and not a single phone went off. (I know there's no way it had a 100% success rate overall, but still.) It was cute, seemingly effective, and I remember really hoping it would catch on, but alas.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 11:14am

👋 Sutton Ross said: "That man is awesome since we all know how completelyawful holiday audiences can be. Know the rules or stay home. The end."

Thanks for the news update about “how completely awful holiday audiences can be”, genius. I’ve seen a bunch of shows this holiday season and every audience has been just fine. Take your own advice and stay home, Sweetie.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 12:20pm

Poconopanther said: "I’m guessing no one will agree with me, but I don’t believe individuals should ever attempt to police others. Instead,get up…go find the house manager, and return to your seat. When did it become okay to scream at groups of people?

The person paid for a ticket to see the professional performers on stage, he had every right to police the annoying holiday audience, he did something that many people (who are afraid of confrontation) could never do and I commend him for it. Here are the rules of the theater: Be quiet. Keep your hands to yourself. Turn your phone off. Shower beforehand. That's it, it's not difficult for most people to understand considering it's common sense.

Broadway shows are expensive!I’ll bet few at the Wintergarden that evening enjoyed the show…and doubtfully will return to Broadway as who among us wants a crazy man to screamat them, because we are not acting in a way HE felt acceptable?. 

You're right, Broadway shows ARE expensive! Imagine your night being ruined by off key singers in the audience instead of just hearing the people on stage. It was not acceptable behavior, perhaps they should brush up on basic respect for others? And screaming at people after he probably asked them to be quiet over and over is perfectly acceptable.

Let’s not praise the crazy guy, or the off key singers, or the House Manager (who has a very rough job). Let’s just try our hardest to enjoy the show.
 
He receives all the praise. And I'm so happy the holidays are over so I can go back to the theater because people like that and people like you have gone back to wherever the hell you think that kind of behavior is acceptable. Florida? One of the square states? God knows. 

Updated On: 1/5/26 at 12:20 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 12:32pm

Sutton Ross said: "Poconopanther said: "I’m guessing no one will agree with me, but I don’t believe individuals should ever attempt to police others. Instead,get up…go find the house manager, and return to your seat. When did it become okay to scream at groups of people?

The person paid for a ticket to see the professional performers on stage, he had every right to police the annoying holiday audience, he did something that many people (who are afraid of confrontation) could never do and I commend him for it. Here are the rules of the theater: Be quiet. Keep your hands to yourself. Turn your phone off. Shower beforehand. That's it, it's not difficult for most people to understand considering it's common sense.

Broadway shows are expensive!I’ll bet few at the Wintergarden that evening enjoyed the show…and doubtfully will return to Broadway as who among us wants a crazy man to screamat them, because we are not acting in a way HE felt acceptable?.

You're right, Broadway shows ARE expensive! Imagine your night being ruined by off key singers in the audience instead of just hearing the people on stage. It was not acceptable behavior, perhaps they should brush up on basic respect for others? And screaming at people after he probably asked them to be quiet over and over is perfectly acceptable.

Let’s not praise the crazy guy, or the off key singers, or the House Manager (who has a very rough job). Let’s just try our hardest to enjoy the show.


He receives all the praise. And I'm so happy the holidays are over so I can go back to the theater because people like that and people like you have gone back to whereverthe hell you think that kind of behavior is acceptable. Florida? One of the square states? God knows."

 

Well thank god we'll now have America's Sweetheart back at the theater!  I imagine you were too busy anyway over the holidays, what with your seasonal Krampus duties.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 12:33pm

Sutton Ross said: "Poconopanther said: "I’m guessing no one will agree with me, but I don’t believe individuals should ever attempt to police others. Instead,get up…go find the house manager, and return to your seat. When did it become okay to scream at groups of people?

The person paid for a ticket to see the professional performers on stage, he had every right to police the annoying holiday audience, he did something that many people (who are afraid of confrontation) could never do and I commend him for it. Here are the rules of the theater: Be quiet. Keep your hands to yourself. Turn your phone off. Shower beforehand. That's it, it's not difficult for most people to understand considering it's common sense.

Broadway shows are expensive!I’ll bet few at the Wintergarden that evening enjoyed the show…and doubtfully will return to Broadway as who among us wants a crazy man to screamat them, because we are not acting in a way HE felt acceptable?.

You're right, Broadway shows ARE expensive! Imagine your night being ruined by off key singers in the audience instead of just hearing the people on stage. It was not acceptable behavior, perhaps they should brush up on basic respect for others? And screaming at people after he probably asked them to be quiet over and over is perfectly acceptable.

Let’s not praise the crazy guy, or the off key singers, or the House Manager (who has a very rough job). Let’s just try our hardest to enjoy the show.


He receives all the praise. And I'm so happy the holidays are over so I can go back to the theater because people like that and people like you have gone back to whereverthe hell you think that kind of behavior is acceptable. Florida? One of the square states? God knows."

What theatre are you going back to? What theatre have you skipped during the holidays? Lying troll. 

[Kad]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 12:38pm

How kind of the board’s sunshine boys to give Sutton Ross rent-free residence in their heads. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 12:52pm

Kad said: "How kind of the board’s sunshine boys to give Sutton Ross rent-free residence in their heads."

 

Likewise, Kad!   Have a happy and blessed New Year!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 12:59pm

Kad said: "How kind of the board’s sunshine boys to give Sutton Ross rent-free residence in their heads."

How kind of the elderly snark king to drop in for a comment. 

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 3:36pm

THDavis said: "It may seem“community theatre” at first blush, but why does a human never come out to address the audience before a show? “Welcome, no cell phones, no pictures, no singing along - please be considerate to your other patrons and performers.”


A human generally holds more gravity than a pre-recorded announcement that most people disregard like an airline safety video."

I remember about ten years ago, they did this at The River. An understudy came out and asked us to take out our phones and ensure they were silenced, etc. I guess Jackman had enough pull to request this. And it gave the understudy something to do.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/6/26 at 10:04am

[MezzA101]

Posted: 1/9/26 at 7:34am

CBS news coverage with interviews

https://search.app/WvGb8

[mitchern]

Posted: 1/10/26 at 7:26am

https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2026/1/9/man-involved-in-broadways-mamma-mia-outburst-shares-his-side-of-the-story?fbclid=IwY2xjawPOFr5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNGtQU29kSlJJZzJiR3d2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHs2fKIkS6IjaDcwcfqr5io7zAhE8eWLsNL7KU6NMLfFq4ee-Fdr_n0YyXfl4_aem_6tHFRj82XdbRnjfgGNMe_w