Theater vs. Theatre- Page 2

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 7:30pm

theater looks ignant.

Look, it is what it is and you can be as ornery as you please. It is just good knowledge to know how most people in theatre spell their artform. If you don't want to spell it "theatre"--knock your lights out with "theater". Be a rebel. Whoop dee doo.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 8:47pm

One is French, one is American. There is your difference. I like the spelling 'theatre' so much better.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 9:38pm

I just like sounding BRitish and putting theatre.

[Roxie]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 10:34pm

I've always liked it spelled Theatre more. It's just more dramatic hehe.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 10:38pm

I just alwaysed used THEATRE because it looked...(for lack of a better word) more elegant. haha

[kjklo]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 10:42pm

Years ago, "theatre" seemed to be most commonly used, even in the U.S., but now it's "theater," just like "catalogue" has become "catalog." I still use the old spellings just because it's a personal preference. I think it's all pretty much optional though. Oh, by the way, someone had a quote about standardizing American spelling, which mentioned Daniel Webster's influence. It was, of course, Noah Webster, who started that. Updated On: 8/23/04 at 10:42 PM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 11:51pm

This thread is funny.

[RevoLucian]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 1:10am

I say we just call it:

Theat

i.e. "I'm going to the theat!" "What a fine work of theat!" & "Theat is such a treat!"

what do ya think? A new movement?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 1:44am

I'm with you, Revo! And I love Bjork!

[alterego]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 8:32am

I'm with you bluewizard! There is no listing for 'theater' in the Oxford Dictionary.

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 8:35am

I'm with all of you! Wheeee hee! It doesn't really matter!

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 4:31pm

I usually just use Theater. I dont know why.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 7:30pm

The British also spell "center" as "centre"

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 7:34pm

I usually use theatre for the craft and theater for the building.....

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 7:52pm

Basically it's up to you to use whichever spelling whenever you feel it's appropriate. Obviously there are multiple ways to approach the issue and to back up whatever spelling you use. And it's really not worth getting too wrapped up in the history behind it or feeling you need to subscribe to one ideology or another. I dig that you're just curious to know which is correct, I researched it myself at one point, and ultimately realized it doesn't really matter which you use as long as you're consistent. I personally use "theatre" for anything having to do with live stage work, and "theater" for the place where movies happen.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/23/04 at 8:28pm

While I wil agree that it is ultimately silly, the answer to the question is that most in the theatre spell it re. If that is of interest to you, that is the answer.

[Dover]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 12:55am

I use "theatre" out of general snobbery, as it helps to distinguish what we do from a multiplex in a mall somewhere. And it's not true that theatER is the building. Look at any Broadway theatre. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there's a single Broadway house that spells it ER.

The one annoyance about this debate is that every time I do a show I have to memorize every entity involved in the production that uses that word in their name, and which way they spell it. Very often it doesn't match between the producer, the venue, and whatever other companies are involved, and I have to remember which is which. And one time, it was the So-and-So TheatRE Company, but when refering to them as a business, the official name was the So-and-So TheatER Company, Inc. Now that was confusing!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:00am

I just go wherever my hands type actually. I use both spellings. Usually I call the show "theatre" and the building "theater" but that's not always the case and I lean more towards "theater" because as people pointed out, that's the American way of spelling it. I don't say "colour," "realise," or "practise" so why should I switch to a more proper way of spelling for theater? Call me a lazy American.

Updated On: 10/5/06 at 01:00 AM

[ABoyLikeThat]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:21am

Well, it's "theatre". Always. That might just be the Canadian in me though. Updated On: 10/5/06 at 01:21 AM

[mustard]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:35am

I think "theatre" looks pretentious as hell. I can't stand it from Americans. It makes me sneer (while I think "thea-TRAH" in my head).

It's just as bad as that fake "Theater 1A" accent that beginners use in scenes (like what Natalie Portman used in V for Vendetta). Ugh, ugh, ugh.

I may be drunk, but damn it, I believe in what I'm currently saying!
Updated On: 10/5/06 at 01:35 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:30am

I find it hilarious when Americans say something like "THEATER is the correct spelling." There are very few occasions when the American way is the correct way to spell a word (centre being another example and catalog as well). I place such hubris uright up there with "Do you speak American?"

[OnMyWay]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 3:01am

It doesn't matter. Everyone has a different opinion.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 3:33am

I spell it theater.

While I'm at it, I also write glamor, catalog, dialog, prolog, anesthesia, esthetic, etc. English is not my native language, so I learned the American way when I emigrated.

I'd spell the British way had I moved there instead.

Updated On: 10/5/06 at 03:33 AM

[actor]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 6:54am

THEATER = American

Most Americans spell it theater.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 7:36am

Dover is correct. Every NYC legitimate theatre is spelled Theatre, not Theater, as in, The Shubert Theatre is the flagship theatre in the Shubert chain of theatres in New York City.

Updated On: 10/5/06 at 07:36 AM