Should Broadway Have a Ratings System — Page 2

RE: Grammar. You are right, Starstruck, this is not the place to have that particular discussion.

Back to topic: While I think Matt has a point, I don't think putting a Hollywood type rating on a show is the answer. I have been to many shows where I've seen children in the audience and thought "what are their parent's thinking?" But I agree with Yellibean that by rating a Broadway show a la Hollywood, it will further the slide into theme park blandness. I think the answer lies in a more global solution in that parents need to pay more attention and do the research before exposing their children to something that may be inappropriate for them.

And Broadway isn't the only game in town as far as children are concerned. There are many companies here that produce excellent family fare: Theaterworks USA, Vital Children's Theatre and Manhattan Children's Theatre come to mind immediately.

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Updated On: 12/26/06 at 11:36 AM

"Well, naturally. This is just one guy's opinion. I'm just saying that people don't do enough research about certain shows. So they end up taking their kids to shows that are inappropriate. "

That's their problem. I'm tired of lazy parents deciding that everything needs to be regulated by people with their own agenda on what is appropriate and what is not. Nowhere does it say Broadway shows have to be family friendly or even. In the age of the internet, there is absolutely no excuse for a parent not to able to find information he or she needs. And as was stated, all the online ticketing services list recommended ages.

I agree with most of the things already said. The problems of not having a rating system are negligible when compared to the problems with instituting one.

. . .Broadway, . . . should have a clear ratings system so that parents know what shows to NOT take their kids to thus preventing any permanent damage to their innocence.

Right, because theatre is all about protecting innocence.

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HAIRSPRAY ALL AGES!? THATS REDICULOUS- IT DEALS WITHR RACE, SEX, AND OTHER MATURE ISSUES

WOAH THATS KINDA SCARY!

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Oh dear LORD please stop talking about censorship and rating "free expression"

Clue phone: many MOVIES are art and free expression but they still get ratings so parents can be helped in their decision of what to bring their kid to. It has nothing to do with censorship. It is JUST a help for parents with kids.

As for the original question, there are several sites that already rate or say if shows are appropriate for kids. If parents are too dumb to read these then they deserve the awkward questions from their kids afterward. Especially to that parent that took their kid to Cabaret--that doesn't even take any research. Wow...

it is really up to the parent. i mean like how many kids are in the audiance of spring awakening each day. very little. those parents are stupis although the mature nature will go over their heads.

A rating system wouldn't have to bar children out. That could be up to each individual performance. I really think the real youngins should be barred. Not fair to the other people that paid $100 when they cry or talk.

The movie rating system is completely screwed up--I don't see how a Broadway rating system would be any different. Also, if you are going to take your children to a Broadway show you should take the time to find out about the show. There isn't a single review or article about Spring Awakening that doesn't say what the show is about--the same with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Producers, etc... Parents should take interest in what they are exposing their children to and do a little research before hand.

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I agree that warnings are good...but not restrictions. I mean my mom has always been trusting of me and never had a restriction even with R movies. I saw Avenue Q in seventh grade and I think a lot of the humor may have gone over my head. But like someone said, telecharge does have the warning. Its just good to have something that tells parents if they should take their kids or not...in case their completely clueless about a show. But a rating can be really arbitrary...i mean do you just say R because they use the f word or because of references or what? I've seen movies that don't even curse but are rated R because drugs are shown or referenced. You wouldn't want to do that with theater.

"No one under 10 should be allowed in a Broadway show because under that age they cannot fully appreciate it or understand what is going on."

I beg to differ. I started seeing shows when I was 10. Lots of people could have understood what was going on at 7 and behaved well. That may have been true for you but, it isn't for A LOT of people.

The under 10 issue is another one that parents should take responsibility for. They should at least have some idea whether their child can sit still for 2+ hours and enjoy a show before they thrust it on the rest of the theatre.

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No one under 10 should be allowed in a Broadway show because under that age they cannot fully appreciate it or understand what is going on.

Balderdash. Plenty of adults cannot fully appreciate it or understand what is going on and plenty of adults are much worse behaved at the theatre than some children are. My parents took me to see my first Broadway show at the age of seven. It was Evita (and it was my choice to see it). I certainly didn't understand all that was going on, but it was one of the most formative experiences of my childhood. It depends on the child, not the age.

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Updated On: 12/26/06 at 03:58 PM

By the way:

In the lobby of the Belasco during DRACULA's run there was a sign that said the show was rated PG-13 for nudity and violence.