Theater Tempertures

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:31am

Curious to what you all think.  I just got back from my trip to NYC.  I found the theater temperature in at least two shows to be so cold it actually affected my enjoyment of the show.  At Long Days Journey it was extremely cold in the mezzanine.  I had a hoodie on and was still shivering.  The worst though, was at Waitress.  In the upper mezzanine, the air conditioner was just blowing full cold air.  Friday was such a pretty day so when I went to the show that night, I didn't bring my hoodie with me.  People all around me were complaining, but of course no one bothered to complain to an usher or management.  At intermission, I found an usher and then spoke to the House Manager, who told me it would be taken care of.  All during intermission, it still blew full cold air.  A little into the second act, the temperature changed a little, but still very cold.  People were still complaining, but of course again no one addressed it to an usher or management.  It wasn't until the last ten minutes of the show, that the air conditioner was obviously turned off.  I really didn't enjoy the show as much as i thought.  I don't know if it was because of the temperature or the show itself.  I addressed this after the show to the House Manager again.  He insisted that the air was turned off when I approached him.  I told him it wasn't until the last ten minutes.  I stated people around me were complaining, but of course, didn't complain to anyone of importance.  He responded like it was just me and very condescending.  Is it just me?  Or are you finding the theaters extremely cold?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:33am

They have to keep the American Airlines theater cold for the fog.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:38am

Interesting.  I wouldn't have thought that was the reason.  It would have been helpful that Roundabout Management would have mentioned this somewhere on their site.  If they did, I didn't catch it.  I find Roundabout Theater Management to provide the most customer service and best service by their staff, compared to the other Theater Management Groups.  I responded to their survey when I got home.  Maybe they will address it.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:39am

Some indeed feel like an icebox.For some shows, they do it to keep you awake during a really bad show.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:41am

I always expect theatres to be chilly (so I prepare for that) and often do find that to be the case.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:46am

"Is it just me?" 

No, it's not just you. I wonder, is there any business less customer-friendly than our beloved theatre?

 

Unacceptable theatre temperatures are just one more among a multitude of aggravations we  have to endure in the pursuit our passion. We must really love it to put up with all this.

 

As you say, sometimes the theatres are freezing. Sometimes you roast. I've been at shows where they had to open doors to the outside  of the theatre to let some air in. Others where people have had to sit  in their overcoats. All complaints are fruitless. "The air conditioning/heating system broke down." "We're working on it." "It should warm up/get cooler soon." Soon means never.

 

Theategoers: one hardy breed.

Updated On: 5/23/16 at 09:46 AM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:47am

I had to say something to an usher at Long Day's Journey because I was unbearably cold. He explained about the fog but it truly was uncomfortable, especially for a show that long. I was shivering!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 9:51am

Re After Right's comments, it is almost like you are dealing with the mta or dmv.

[StephieElise]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:01am

We found the theatres in New York to be too warm in winter. My mum especially found it hard to stay awake due to the warm temperature. In Australia I've often found the theatres cold (e.g. in Les Mis I had to put my coat on backwards because I got so cold in act 1). I was at a show a couple of weeks ago though that got so hot that I felt I was going to faint. The show was 90 minutes with no intermission (Tick Tick Boom) and you had to walk across the 'stage' to get to the door so while it was a great show I couldn't wait to get out of there! 

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:10am

I never noticed but good to know! Were they selling hoodies or a sweater at the souvenir area? If so, I probably would have bought one just to keep myself warm.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:25am

Maybe that is the idea in the first place. Make the theater so cold you have to buy a hoodie.

[HSky]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:28am

I'd rather be a little cold than hot, because that makes me absolutely miserable.

Last July, when I first saw Daddy Long Legs, it was a 90+ degree day. They apparently weren't running the air during the first act because of how small and intimate the space is, worried it would compromise the sound, and everyone was constantly fanning themselves with the playbills. Several patrons complained in the lobby at intermission, feeling faint, and the water being sold was lukewarm. They used the remote to turn the air on but then dialed it back when the second act began. I happened to see the show again last night and it was still a bit on the warm side but I think the air was at least on low during the show then they turned it up again for intermission.

Also, in April, when there were some unseasonably warm days (I believe there were some other posts on here about this and it was a timing issue with maintenance), I was at a preview of American Psycho that was also sweltering. After several complaints, the ushers opened the rear orchestra doors to the alley so people could get air. 

 

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:35am

I had the same issue when I went to see Waitress. I was sat in the back row of the mezzanine right in the corner. Was freezing! I spoke to the usher and then to the house manager during the intermission and was very lucky to be moved to an empty orchestra seat due to someone leaving.

Surely they must know this is a problem. People were sat with coats and hoods on - So cold.

[bandit964]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:35am

Hsky:

SAME!  Being too hot, especially in those small seats, makes for a claustrophobic nightmare.  I'd much rather be too cold.  

 

Artman:

I was at Long Day's Journey in the mezz on Friday evening and did think it was unusually chilly, but I enjoy cooler temperatures.

 

I also find it fascinating how different people have such extremely different comfort zones when it comes to temperature.  

[HSky]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:01am

Yes, I'm pretty sure the time I saw American Psycho was when that cluster of Shubert theaters was having the work done. I think someone had posted about heat at Tuck Everlasting the same night.

[nolanativeny]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:20am

HSky said: "Yes, I'm pretty sure the time I saw American Psycho was when that cluster of Shubert theaters was having the work done. I think someone had posted about heat at Tuck Everlasting the same night.

 

"

I was at American Psycho on April 1 when they were doing the work, and it was almost unbearably hot. I remember that day being very humid too (it had been threatening to rain all day). I was sweating profusely, as were the actors on stage. There was a bald man a few rows in front of me who was wiping his sweaty head the entire time, which was a very pleasant image to have in my peripheral vision. Exiting the theatre was like a breath of fresh air...

 

I'm a weirdly warm natured person though, so I usually find the theatres comfortable when they're cold, like I thought the American Airlines was perfect during Long Day's Journey, but my friend was shivering the whole time. 

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:48am

I've never been hot in a theater, but I've been freezing many many times.

This is especially true in the mezz or balcony, because you're actually closer to the AC vents and have the cold air blown directly on you. The worst experiences I've had were in the balcony of the Cort (it had been warm on previous days, but cold and pouring rain that day, everybody was drenched and shivering because they clearly hadn't adjusted to the weather change) and in the side mezz of the Neil Simon. I also find the Stephen Sondheim very uncomfortable in the summer, because they have individual AC vents underneath every other seat, so you'll have cold air blown against the back of your legs and up your back, which is very annoying if you're swearing a skirt or shorts... When I saw Anything Goes there I could move one seat over (once I had discovered where the cold air was coming from), in another non-Broadway house with a similar system I covered the vent with my cardigan and purse to stop the air...

 

I'm always taking an extra sweater now, and I bring tights and socks in the summer if I'm wearing a skirt to put on before the show, because I'll freeze otherwise and won't be able to enjoy the show.

 

And I'll be more reluctant to buy a mezz/balcony seat in the summer because I know it's always colder up there then down in the orchestra (at least in my experience)

 

I always tell an usher at intermission if it's really bad (and I notice/hear other people around me are cold too), but I haven't noticed any actual change from that. In fact, the usher at the Cort straight up told me there's nothing they can do. And either way, by that time I've already been cold for over an hour...

 

I understand that it's hard to regulate the temperature in the audience to accommodate so many people with varied sensitivities, but like others have said, sometimes you look around and sea everybody still wearing their coats of warm sweaters. Surely the ushers could notice that too and do something about it unprompted...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:15pm

I remember watching that behind the scenes video with mary Beth and thinking how cold the Gershwin must be. I've never seen wicked on Broadway, only on tour.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:22pm

You also have to take into consideration the actors on stage are often wearing multiple layers, suits, wigs, tons of makeup etc etc and it's kept colder to keep them from melting. 

I used to work a merch stand and in my years in freezing theatres we only sold maybe 5-6 hoodies specifically because someone said they were freezing.

[sarahb22]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:27pm

How are the temps at the Richard Rodgers? I have a friend who's seeing 'Hamilton' in July and if it's going to be extreme one way or the other I'd like to let her know.

[Tag]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:34pm

Generally it's better for the audience to be cold rather than sweaty and hot.  There's an over compensation for a colder temperature because when your packing so many people into one space, it's bound to get hotter.
Also to note (and mentioned above) is that temperatures are often regulated to accommodate fog and/or haze effects.  Air temperatures can alter the look of a show and air ducts/vents can create air currents that either benefit or deter the desired atmospherics effects.

[mpkie]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 1:22pm

No, I don't think it's just you. I tend to find myself start to get chilly, especially mid way through a first act, everyone sitting still for so long and not generating any additional body heat.

However, this isn't just the case in a theater house. Movie theaters are the same way. I have to bring layers.

I guess it's better to be cold than have everyone, including yourself, be sweaty (and potentially smelly).

It's hard to get right, and they won't get it right, when you have to care for a thousand or so bodies who generate/expend heat differently.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 1:34pm

I saw a NYMF show at the Davenport Theatre (before it was the Davenport, I think) and only one AC was working, and partially at that. People left at intermission because of it. I stuck it out. It wasn't fun.

The Curran and Orpheum Theatres in San Francisco can get way too warm any time of year up in the mezz. But otherwise, always assume a theatre will be chilly and at least bring a cardigan.

Updated On: 5/23/16 at 01:34 PM

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 2:59pm

At American Psycho 2 weeks ago it was freezing. It was the coldest I ever felt a theatre before. I was there during previews when it was super hot too. 

 

I find most theatres cold so I always have a hoodie with. 

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 4:28pm

Thanks for all the responses.  Normally I am the opposite when it comes to temperature. I had my thyroid removed years ago, so normally I run hotter, body temperature wise.  I can wear shorts during the Winter.  So if I'm freezing/shivering it has to be cold.  What I didn't like in the situation at Waitress, was the House Manager's attitude.  If I can still feel cold air blowing down on me, you can't stand there and tell me the air was turned off.  I knew exactly when the air was turned off (ten minutes before end) because I heard it go off.  One of us was telling a bold faced lie and it wasn't me.  I mentioned possibly a malfunction with the system.  He still stood there and told me it was turned off.  Then told me to leave the theater when I asked for Management email address.  If I knew it would serve a purpose, I would pursue the issue.  Unfortunately I have found Nederlander Theater Group, in the past, lacking in customer service