Wearing Costumes/Cosplay to Broadway Shows

[alogan1814]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 12:58pm

I'm going to the closing performance of The Prom on August 11th, and I have an outfit that kinda looks like Alyssa's from Alyssa Greene and idk if it would be cheesy or not. Is it bad to wear costumes even if they're not over the top like say Elphaba or something to a show?

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:06pm

I mean, considering the outfit would otherwise be considered street clothing, I don’t see why it would be an issue unless you are purposely trying to draw focus to yourself.

Disney shows (especially Frozen) seem to enjoy this trend and I totally feel like it’s fine as long as they aren’t disrupting other patrons (excessive costume pieces obstructing views or spilling over the seat) or distracting from the show itself.

A lot of people also wore homemade costumes to Be More Chill the night I saw it

[jagman1062]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:06pm

alogan1814 said: "I'm going to the closing performance of The Prom on August 11th, and I have an outfit that kinda looks like Alyssa's from Alyssa Greene and idk if it would be cheesy or not. Is it bad to wear costumes even if they're not over the top like say Elphaba or something to a show?"

I've been attending the theater for many years and with the exception of the revival of Hair, where some audience members came dressed as hippies, I can't say I've ever seen audience members in costumes.  At one time people dressed for the theater as it was a cultural event.  Today some people come dressed for the beach and it's a very relaxed atmosphere.  My personal opinion is that as long as you're not distracting anyone during the performance, you should be fine in a costume.  Some people might ridicule you, but what should you care?

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:08pm

Unless you're 4 years old and dressed as Princess Elsa, please don't (and even the 4 year olds are a bit...much)!

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:09pm

Do what makes you happy. My personal opinion is when people wear costumes/cosplay, they make the event about them instead of the show. But why should you care? If you wanna dress up, dress up.

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:33pm

JSquared2 said: "Unless you're 4 years old and dressed asPrincess Elsa, please don't (and even the 4 year olds are a bit...much)!"

Wow, you seem like a fun person to be around. Seriously, how does someone wearing a costume to a show negatively impact your viewing experience? Take a seat and let people enjoy themselves. Updated On: 7/30/19 at 01:33 PM

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:35pm

Personal opinion, there are limits. From someone that is in the "Disneybound" community, I feel like the same rules of that movement should be the limit here as well. Suggestive clothing with colors and accessories that are kind of clever and subtle to suggest a character BUT at the same time can be viewed by and outsider as just a nice outfit... that's the way to go. I don't PERSONALLY want to see anyone showing up in like full on costume at a musical because as someone said above, it can be distracting to those around you if you are sitting next to someone that is a full grown adult in a full blown Elsa costume at Frozen. The only place COSTUMES should be on Broadway is on the stage. You can still show your love for it in street clothing that is suggestive of the show but if it's something you'd wear on Halloween, leave it at home.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:37pm

Except the op asked for opinions.

I think it's  stupid, too. But do I CARE? Nope.

Updated On: 7/31/19 at 01:37 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:37pm

I mean, if it's subtle-ish, go for it. Don't blowtorch your face to see Phantom.

Also, I think the rules are a little different for closing night. I saw a lot of people in gold lamé at Head Over Heels closing, and that was really fun.

Updated On: 7/30/19 at 01:37 PM

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 1:56pm

LizzieCurry said: "I mean, if it's subtle-ish, go for it. Don't blowtorch your face to see Phantom.

Also, I think the rules are a little different for closing night. I saw a lot of people in gold lamé at Head Over Heels closing, and that was really fun."

Yeah I know a lot of people dressed up in elaborate costumes for the closing of Priscilla a few years ago as well. And there have been other nights (rare) that shows have ASKED for it. Like Puffs recently had a costume contest and there was a costume contest during Once on this Island. And the nights of the Sing-a-longs for Six in the West End costumes are encouraged as well.

[SharksVsJets]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 2:16pm

Do it! But no tracer lights (or at least turn them off during the show).

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 2:22pm

dramamama611 said: "Except the op asked for opinions.

I think its stupid, too. But do I CARE? Nope."

(Emphasis added.)

The above, I presume, is why I had to teach it's v. its to college freshmen at one of the top 25 universities in the country!

I am kidding, of course. Dramamama611 knows the difference and just made a typo. But seriously, the first time I devoted half a (theater) class to it's/its and to/too/two, etc., I thought I was shaming the students into proofreading with greater care. It turned out, however, that not only were they not embarrassed, they were grateful that somebody had finally explained the difference. I really don't know what they teach in schools these days. And get off my lawn!

***

ETA just to add my $.02 to the topic: I think the OP is fine wearing normal street wear that merely resembles one of the costumes. In general, however, theater is a collective experience. It shouldn't be about calling attention to yourself or about trying to pretend you are part of the show.

If you want an individual experience, sit at home in your golden "Belle" dress and sing along with soundtrack. Unless you are ten or younger. My friend, Paige O'Hara, was the original voice of Belle and she did a lot of concert gigs for years after the movie came out. At every gig, she would come out on stage to face an almost blinding audience: 2,000 little girls in the golden dresses they had bought at the Disney store. That's sweet for kids, but just sad for adults. It is indeed possible to be TOO "young at heart".

Updated On: 7/30/19 at 02:22 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 2:29pm

Whatever you do, don't take away from the show on stage. But wearing a dress that's somewhat similar to Alyssa's seems about as harmless as you could go with "cosplaying". Chances are 99% of the patrons won't know or care...but you'll know and care, and that's what counts.

If you were an adult dressing as Elsa, or Phantom, or Hamilton, or Elphaba, I think it would be a different story.

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 2:32pm

My friend and I were just talking about this a few weeks ago, mostly as a lot of Beetlejuice fans wear costumes to the show. I personally don't see an issue with it (as long as you don't hop on stage with the actors obviously), but my friend felt it was rude to the costume designers. I didn't really see her point, in fact I had assumed the opposite. I can't say as I'm not a costume designer, but I would be thrilled if someone appreciated my work enough to recreate it. That might just be because I outside that field though idk. The only problem I see with cosplaying a show is no one really sees it, maybe in passing, but a convention could probably work better if you want to show it off? Though as long as people can enjoy the show, I would say it's worry a shot.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 2:44pm

^^^^^ Again, the OP is merely wearing an outfit of street clothes that resembles a costume from the show. I see no problem in that.

But wearing an actual recreation of a show costume is the visual equivalent of singing along with the performers on stage. As a sensibly dressed patron, which Elphaba do I watch?

Whether it flatters the costumer, I can't say. I tend to think there's something wrong with an adult who would want to cosplay at the theater, but that's my own bias. What is objectively true is that much of the work of mounting a production is drawing the proper focus of the spectator at each moment. ANYTHING that distracts from that--be it visual or aural--is to be avoided, unless you are dying and need someone to call 911.

[cbj97]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 3:36pm

For what it's worth, I remember one time seeing Amanda Jane Cooper and Jessica Vosk post pictures on their instagrams with two girls at the stage door dressed as Glinda and Elphaba and they both seemed to be really excited that audience members came in costume. So take that for what you will

Personally, I'm of the belief that if it isn't harming anyone, then who cares? If it doesn't negatively impact you, then I think it's none of your business how others behave/dress, etc.

Updated On: 7/31/19 at 03:36 PM

[inception]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 7:48pm

Ignore the naysayers. Absolutely always go to any performance in the most elaborate costume possible. Everyone will love you and want to take selfies with you. I just saw Queen with Adam Lambert a couple weeks ago and there were fellows dressed up like Feddie Mercury in the crowd. They got on the jumbotron during the pre-show & really whipped up the crowd while we waited for the show to start. (Which was amazing by the way)
I remember the last Madonna tour - lots of drag queens went as various Madonnas and everyone wanted selfies and also some of the best ended up on the jumbotron.
I think even for a B-way show being in costume shows that you are a true die-hard fan and everyone will respect you more because you obviously love the show the most. Also standing up and clapping & singing along proves that you love the show.
I have front row dress-circle seats to Rosenkavalier at the Met in December & just putting finishing touches on my powdered wig & 18th Century satin suit.

Updated On: 7/30/19 at 07:48 PM

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 8:25pm

GavestonPS said: "But wearing an actual recreation of a show costume is the visual equivalent ofsinging along with the performers on stage."

I get why people would find this annoying, but it's not like you normally look at the unlit audience during a show. Singing during a show is much worse because you can't control what you hear, while you can control what you can see. As long as it's not obstructing the show (flashing lights, large additions that block the stage for people behind you, etc), it's not going to be noticed by anyone around. 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 9:37pm

^^^^^ But, Dood, doesn't cosplay often involve hats, wigs, and other head pieces? Overly large clothing in general?

And once I've seen a 40-year-old Annie Warbucks, I'm not sure you're right that I can "control what I see".

[Rainah]

Posted: 7/30/19 at 10:28pm

"disneybound" style is fun and fitting. Or, I suppose, if it's Next to Normal or similar and the costumes are indistinguishable from street clothes.


Wearing full on costumes I find distracting and embarrassing, though I know many don't share the opinion. I've straight up told people that if they plan to go in costume, I would not be going with them, as it would ruin the experience for me.

the exception is spaces in which it is explicitly invited, such as broadwaycon, a costume contest, etc. In that case, go all out! But the general social contract spells out when and where full on costumes are appropriate, and generally at a show they are not.

[Ceej]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 12:23am

LizzieCurry said: "Don't blowtorch your face to see Phantom.”

Thanks for the hearty laugh. 
 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 1:01am

I say go for it especially considering it’s not anything super extravagant or distracting:

I saw Be More Chill last week and there was a teenage girl dressed up as one of the female characters in the show and I thought she looked great.
 

Updated On: 7/31/19 at 01:01 AM

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 1:09am

ClumsyDude15 said: "I saw Be More Chill last week and there was a teenage girl dressed up as one of the female characters in the show and I thought she looked great."

I swear I saw at least 5 people dressed as Michael the time I saw BMC. Not even just the shirt they sell as merch, but the jacket. These fans really go all out

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 1:52am

I'm so tired of people making it about themselves when we should actually just sit there, appreciate the performance, stay quiet, clap when appropriate and leave at the end.

This isn't ComicCon.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 5:54am

GavestonPS said: "dramamama611 said: "Except the op asked for opinions.

I think its stupid, too. But do I CARE? Nope."

(Emphasis added.)

The above, I presume, is why I had to teach it's v. its to college freshmen at one of the top 25 universities in the country!

I am kidding, of course. Dramamama611 knows the difference and just made a typo. But seriously, the first time I devoted half a (theater) class to it's/its and to/too/two, etc., I thought I was shaming the students into proofreading with greater care. It turned out, however, that not only were they not embarrassed, they were grateful that somebody had finally explained the difference. I really don't know what they teach in schools these days. And get off my lawn!"

 

Well, color me embarrassed!