Strange Pre-Show Rituals

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:06pm

Anyone know the odd tendencies of Broadway performers prior to a show? Any strange rituals?

Based on this video (and the comments), it seems Lin used to do this before every show when the weather was warm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8rPpzkwlp8&feature=related

Interesting...

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 1:05pm

It's not "pre-show" its during show, but an old tradition that stared in Vaudville, you would "cluck" like a chicken when you were doing and scene with someone when it was their last performance.

Donna McKechnie wrote that Ethel Merman "clucked" at her during her last performance in "Call Me Madam" when she played the part that Ethel's daughter played on the tour.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 1:27pm

Patti LuPone drinks a vial of fresh virgin blood.

[BNN]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 1:38pm

I believe there was a certain performer, I think it might have been Mary Martin, who would sit on their dressing room toilet until their dresser got them. Apparently, this was their way to deal with stagefright.

[morosco]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 1:44pm

Donna McKechnie wrote that Ethel Merman "clucked" at her during her last performance in "Call Me Madam" when she played the part that Ethel's daughter played on the tour.

That was such a funny part in McKechnie's book. I believe that she said that she thought that Merman was having a stroke or something like that. It's also funny in that chapter that Merman went to the stage manager and asked that they make McKechnie stop sweating onstage.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 2:08pm

I know I'm not a legendary stage performer in any way, but in high school before the show, the entire cast would go out into the back hallway behind the dressing rooms for prayer (Catholic school) and a round of "Flea Fly." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lnx1MEZJMM)

Ours was a little different and we didn't mess it up. A really fun way to get the adrenaline going before a show.