Ushers & Security Guards Roaming Around Theaters While Talking, Texting etc.

Is this a fairly new phenomenon? I mean, I can always remember there being a time or two with an annoying employee at a theater but it does seem to me that in the past few years theater employees have become, not so much rude, but totally lacking in knowing how to do their jobs. They seat people and give them playbills just fine but once the performance starts, they're like five year olds. Running back and forth talking, in and out of the theater, hovering behind you (which to me is the absolute worst), and now texting.


This past week I've seen quite a few shows and have become furious a few times.

LYSISTRATA JONES - The Walter Kerr has by far the rudest employees. I've said it on here before but they have no idea how to do their jobs. They run around in the back of the house talking and laughing, not caring that they're not whispering. One usher the other night apparently knew two people sitting next to me in the mezz so she sat down right in back of us and was talking to them the entire second act while sharing candy and when she wasn't talking, she was texting. The others were in and out and in and out and in and out of that LOUD door on the left side of the rear mezz. It's not a silent door so they MUST know how loud it is when it's opened every 30 seconds.

FOLLIES - The doors going into the mezz need to be altered. I've said this for years. They are SO loud and these ushers (like the ones at the Kerr) are in and out and in and out and in and out for the entire show. You can hear them opening and closing halfway down the mezzanine for 3 hours . Why can't an usher just be stationed inside the theater for the entire performance? They stand in the back talking and the other day when she was bored with the show she texted throughout it. With about 20 minutes left, (I was in the last row) one usher came in stood right behind me, resting his head on the ledge next to mine. I turned at one point and it scared the hell out of me. This man's head with inches from mine and he was just staring at me. It was like something out of a horror movie, I seriously almost screamed. It's called personal space, you dipshlt.


A few other theaters are as guilty as these are such as The Shubert and the Broadhurst where the security people think once a show starts it's time for them to talk on their phones.

But I guess my point to this is, why aren't ushers trained on how to behave anymore? Or at the very least why aren't the rules enforced? Half the "shushing" I hear now in a theater is directed at ushers and security people. It's all just so stupid.

Did you complain to any of the house managers? Just curious to see what their reaction would be to it. Personally, I've been rather lucky and haven't had any problems like this but the only way to change anything is if they receive a lot of complaints about it. Maybe a mass email to the managers of the theatres would help.

The ones that hover are probably hoping to catch bootleggers...



I was annoyed a bit at Follies back in September with the ushers in the orchestra going in and out of the doors. Idjits.

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I'm fairly new to the Broadway scene, so I haven't attended that many shows...yet. That said, I didn't notice any of this going on at the performances I have seen. I sat in the orchestra during Follies a couple weeks ago and thought everyone behaved appropriately. But I'll have to keep an eye out for this.

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Walter Kerr employees do suck. They are absolutely terrible. During American Idiot, at the St. James, one time I had rush seats in the last row of the orchestra and it was during a snow storm, so there were empty seats in a better seat on the isle a few rows up. The usher heard my friend and I talking about moving and yelled at us for even considering it. The people never even showed up (her concern). Then during the performance she was just chatting with her friend off to the side, occasionally pointing out audience members and clearly talking about them.

The Broadway Theater, though, has some great ushers. There is an Asian lady, I wish I remembered her name. During both Shrek and Sister Act she has performed her duties, and managed the audience with some strictness, but it was never rude or mean. There is another African American lady, usually in the back of house right who is the nicest person. When I wanted an extra playbill, she handed me 3 or 4, told me where the bathroom was and just had common courtesy that others lack. I find the bar tenders are often rude, but most of the merchandise people are great. At the Belasco during WOTV, a merch guy in the mezzanine was so kind, giving my friend and I information on the show's production history, what's happening after the show closes, etc.

There's my rant. Maybe the Jujamycyn company needs to get rid of all of the employees, top to bottom! (sorry, had to use a quote from a show that is playing another Jujamcyn theate)

Jordan-I have yet to have that problem.

For the record, I like an usher who takes their job very seriously. I LOVE a theatre run like a tight ship.

I love ushers who scold slobs for putting their coats on the mezz railing, putting their belongings on a stage and taking photos, etc.

There is an African American female usher who works at the Booth who I am in love with. She is a wicked bitch if you are a moron, but she is soft as butter when you talk to her.

She ripped a guy a new one who placed his coat onstage at Other Desert Cities but then proceeded to have the loveliest conversation with me as she recognized me from all my visits to Next To Normal.

I told her I adored her and she said, "people get more foolish by the day and someone has to remind them how to be respectful in the theatre."

Proper theatre behaviors starts with the tone of the ushers. If they treat it like a free for all, its all over.
Amen.

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"There is an African American female usher who works at the Booth who I am in love with."

I know exactly who you're talking about and I adore her. She should work at the Kerr for one night and whip those ushers asses into shape.

I've encountered this problem a number of times in recent years in Broadway theatres.

I don't recall it happening off-Broadway.

There is an African American female usher who works at the Booth who I am in love with. She is a wicked bitch if you are a moron, but she is soft as butter when you talk to her.

This woman sounds amazing! I'll have to go see OTHER DESERT CITIES just so I can see her in action.

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Jordan, At Hugh Jackman, Sunday, the security were extremely annoying. Constantly talking to each other and moving about this place and that place. I was standing at the back of the orchestra, so they did all this within view. My $26.50 may not be a big deal, but the customers who paid for the last two rows of the orchestra, I'm sure could not have been happy. On another note, shouldn't the ushers have some knowledge of the cast of the show? At Follies, I asked two ushers if a cast member was in and they both told me they did not know any of the cast members, except the four leads. I'm sure on a brand new show this can be forgiven, but night after night seeing the same show, they should have some knowledge.

Updated On: 11/26/13 at 07:54 PM

Updated On: 11/26/13 at 08:52 PM