Theatre Do and Don'ts Petition!

You can put it in Playbill from now until doomsday but it will not change this type of behavior from happening. The same people will do it over and over again if you tell them a million times.

The very first thing audiences hear in many shows after the lights go down is an announcement to silence phones. And yet...

Unfortunately there's a feeling of entitlement in the theater today. I'm not sure whether it's the high price of tickets or a loss of etiquette but people now dress like they're going to a barbeque, put their feet on the stage when possible and use their phones as if they're at home. The overall response being "if I'm spending over a hundred dollars for my ticket, I'll act and dress as I damn well please." As others noted, if the pre show announcement is ineffectual then I highly doubt anything printed in the Playbill regarding behavior is going to make a difference. Plus the people who most need to read it are probably texting on their phones.

I just took a group of theater-obsessed students to see a professional regional musical production. We reviewed the rules before. We talked about what to do and not to do. All through Act 1, a bunch of kids talked, commented, questioned, and could not sit still. These were 8th graders by the way. I was too seated too far from this particular group to stop them during the show without causing a major disturbance of my own.

At intermission, I gave them a stern lecture and reminded them to not talk and to sit still. So they were good through Act 2. Then, the next day at school, one of them informs me that they are all protesting MY rudeness by not being part of the school musical production next fall. They understand that phones are bad, but they vigorously defended their right to quietly talk and make comments in live theater if only the people who are talking can actually hear them.

Normally students that I take to theater are perfectly behaved. But the world seems to be moving closer and closer to a place where we just have to give up and try our best to hear and see the show over the distractions. I know I am ready to give up.

When we saw AP, a guy in front of us had one of those overpriced soda cups. He raised the cup all the way right in front of us. He than proceeded to keep the cup inverted for what seemed like an eternity insuring he had made sure every possible drop of liquid was gone from that cup.

Updated On: 5/6/16 at 01:25 PM

Rude people usually know that they're being rude. Everyone knows not to talk during a live show, and not to whip your phone out in the middle of it. It's not a matter of letting people know the rules, it's a matter of getting them to obey.

I agree with what Patti Lupone said when she said, "we have forgotten our public manners".

Some people don't give a sh*t about other people. It's all about them. If you politely ask someone to stop many will respond with a "f*ck you" attitude and continue their offensive behavior.

Many people fell that rules don't apply to them.

It's the main reason I go to theater or movies less and less.

One thing I would like to suggest is to make announcements about turning off all technology BEFORE the lights go down at the start of the show. Maybe at 15 minutes and 5 minutes before the houselights go down. Give people some more time to fumble with their devices and get them turned off.

I'm all for legalizing theatre cell jamming technology and to post signage to make people firmly aware that, "In an effort to avoid performance distruptions, cell phone jamming technology is being deployed inside this theater. This technology will render your mobile device completely inoperable and it will not be able to send or receive any calls or texts during the performance. The taking of photographs or recordings of any kind are also not allowed. Please completely turn off your phone or mobile device now. If you do not agree with this policy please do not enter the theater and proceed to the box office for a refund".

I think patrons should have a do or dont petition for theaters.

Like not selling candy with noisy wrappers, not selling soda with ice, not having waiters going up and down the asles selling candy during intermission and before show like it is a hockey game. Its probably just a manner of time before they start selling popcorn and hot dogs and nacho

Maybe Sondheim could update the lyrics to "Invocation and Instructions to the Audience" and it could be played just prior to curtain? Nah, it still wouldn't help...

Updated On: 5/6/16 at 03:14 PM

Demitri2 said: "The overall response being "if I'm spending over a hundred dollars for my ticket, I'll act and dress as I damn well please." "

For the record, I will dress as I damn well please - specifically, with comfort as the main deciding factor - within obvious limits. I don't see how this could possibly affect anyone else's enjoyment of the show. I will not act in any way that disrupts other audience members - including asking to climb over them if I arrive late, which is my main pet peeve.

At my local theatre they actually do have a Do and Don't's list in the back of the playbill.

ARTc3 said: "Part of the cell phone issue isn't that the announcement isn't effective, its that latecomers don't hear the announcement. Latecomers should all be personally be instructed to turn off their phones before being allowed into the house."

It's not just the latecomers. The truth is, people just don't have the patience to listen without additional stimulation to grab their attention in this day and age of instant gratification. After all, there's a reason why overtures are going by the wayside.