#1
Posted: 8/23/05 at 10:57am
I am about to go see some broadway shows - my first time in New York City ever - and I am wondering what is appropriate wear to a show?
What to wear to broadway...
#2
Posted: 8/23/05 at 10:58am
Try this thread, it might help you.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=864055
A work of art is an invitation to love.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=864055
#3
Posted: 8/23/05 at 1:31pm
This subject has come up many times before, as apparently people still think it's acceptable to show up for a night a theater in rags.
I'll make it easy for you with a re-cap:
WHAT NOT TO WEAR:
Manpris (is it so hard to choose between shorts and pants? Be a man and dis the 'pri!)
Shorts (to the beach, yes. to the Theater, NO. I don't care how hot it it or how good you think you look in those daisy dukes.)
Sweatpants (The fact that I even have to mention these is sad)
Birkenstock sandals (Never ok, believe it or not, no one wants to see your feet! PS. wearing with socks may get you shot)
Flip flops (with anything -put a damn shoe on already!)
T-shirts with more than one hole in them (trendy "hole" or not, trendy "saying" or not, Trendy "smell" or not)
Pajamas (No Spongebob, No "I <3 Brad", not even the "silky" kind)
Jeans you generally wear to wash your car, dog, carpets, etc
Athletic shoes/sneakers that have survived car accidents, beach wearings, fires, 15 days lost in the Canyon, animal chewings, mud wrestling, etc.
Baseball caps (it's not sunny INSIDE the theater and believe me, no one in the theater cares what team you like)
This leaves you a lot of choice:
Nice jeans, khaki pants, skirts, dresses
Nice T-shirt, a button down shirt, a silky shirt, sweaters Sandals, athletic shoes, work shoes (except if your work shoes are used in your septic tank cleaning job), mules, boots
I hope this helps.
I'll make it easy for you with a re-cap:
WHAT NOT TO WEAR:
Manpris (is it so hard to choose between shorts and pants? Be a man and dis the 'pri!)
Shorts (to the beach, yes. to the Theater, NO. I don't care how hot it it or how good you think you look in those daisy dukes.)
Sweatpants (The fact that I even have to mention these is sad)
Birkenstock sandals (Never ok, believe it or not, no one wants to see your feet! PS. wearing with socks may get you shot)
Flip flops (with anything -put a damn shoe on already!)
T-shirts with more than one hole in them (trendy "hole" or not, trendy "saying" or not, Trendy "smell" or not)
Pajamas (No Spongebob, No "I <3 Brad", not even the "silky" kind)
Jeans you generally wear to wash your car, dog, carpets, etc
Athletic shoes/sneakers that have survived car accidents, beach wearings, fires, 15 days lost in the Canyon, animal chewings, mud wrestling, etc.
Baseball caps (it's not sunny INSIDE the theater and believe me, no one in the theater cares what team you like)
This leaves you a lot of choice:
Nice jeans, khaki pants, skirts, dresses
Nice T-shirt, a button down shirt, a silky shirt, sweaters Sandals, athletic shoes, work shoes (except if your work shoes are used in your septic tank cleaning job), mules, boots
I hope this helps.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#4
Posted: 8/23/05 at 1:34pm
If you're a guy, wear a good pair of jeans (you're living out of a suitcase and jeans don't show wrinkles) and a nice open-collared shirt. You'll be fine.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#5
Posted: 8/23/05 at 1:40pm
just sort of fancy-casual, if you know what i mean
except if you see Rent at the Nederlander, no need to dress up for that
except if you see Rent at the Nederlander, no need to dress up for that
"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living
piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character
and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and
incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness.
Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish
it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a
rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the
real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get
along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small
unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings.
Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end.
But end it does. Another part of you vanishes.
That's show business."-Anonymous
#6
Posted: 8/23/05 at 2:35pm
I just dress up as my favorite character from the particular show I'm seeing. Works fine usually. Except the time I wore my habit to Doubt. It was the old wig-tipped kind, so aparently I was blocking the view of some shorter folks.
follow that plan of attack and you'll never go wrong.
follow that plan of attack and you'll never go wrong.
#7
Posted: 8/23/05 at 3:46pm
aww no birkenstocks? those are my favoritee shoes there soo comfortable. My mom says theyre lesbian shoes (which im not) but I don't care i'm in love with them and I've wore them to RENT (2x) and Wicked. I usually just wear nice pants a tank top with a zip up.
#8
Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:19pm
*spits out Dasani when reads the word "manpris"*
Frankly, that made getting up this morning worth it. Thank you, justme2.
Frankly, that made getting up this morning worth it. Thank you, justme2.
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#9
Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:01pm
I think you want to be respectful to the actors in the performance. If they take and hour and a half to put on fancy makeup and costumes for you, at least take ten minutes to put on a nice outfit.
You will probably dress differently for Les Mis down town than your kid's community theater show, but I know I wouldn't like someone showing up to my show in ripped jeans and flip flops.
You will probably dress differently for Les Mis down town than your kid's community theater show, but I know I wouldn't like someone showing up to my show in ripped jeans and flip flops.
-Was that a fart?
-My fault, I fear.
-My fault, I fear.
#10
Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:02pm
Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Everything in this room is *eat*able. Even I'm *eat*able. But that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies. ~Willy Wonka
It's TRUE! GET A FREE IPOD!!! It's really easy http://premiumipods.freepay.com/?r=15232098 Ask me any questions about it.
I love Ana Gasteyer and Chicago Theater!!!
It's TRUE! GET A FREE IPOD!!! It's really easy http://premiumipods.freepay.com/?r=15232098 Ask me any questions about it.
I love Ana Gasteyer and Chicago Theater!!!
#11
Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:08pm
"If they take and hour and a half to put on fancy makeup and costumes for you"
Call time on most shows is 30 minutes before curtain. I think most actors are there about 45 minutes to curtain. But I think business casual is the best way to go, even if you are seeing "RENT". Why do people always except RENT? Just because of the grungy RENTheads?
Call time on most shows is 30 minutes before curtain. I think most actors are there about 45 minutes to curtain. But I think business casual is the best way to go, even if you are seeing "RENT". Why do people always except RENT? Just because of the grungy RENTheads?
#12
Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:32pm
Usually call for my shows is an hour prior. no biggie. I'm just saying it takes time for them and makeup artists to get them ready, so it's nice to look nice when seeing their show.
-Was that a fart?
-My fault, I fear.
-My fault, I fear.
#13
Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:41pm
Regardless, I agree. You shouldn't go to the theatre looking like you just spent the day at the beach.
#14
Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:43pm
amen.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#15
Posted: 8/23/05 at 6:04pm
Fosse~ don't we pay enough money to see them peform.
#16
Posted: 8/23/05 at 6:38pm
That's partly the point...you pay $50-$100 for a ticket to see a show, but won't put on pants and shoes for it?
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#17
Posted: 8/23/05 at 6:57pm
As someone who has gone to the theater regularly (I'm talking at least once every other week), my perspective is there's no dress code. I try to look presentable. If I come from work, I'm typically in a suit/dress that is acceptable by anyone's standards.
If it's a weekend, I'll throw on anything I darn well please -- sometimes it's a skirt. Sometimes it's jeans (albeit clean jeans) and a cool top. Sometimes I wear nice shoes, sometimes I wear nice sneakers, and sometimes I wear (gasp) flip-flops.
Do I think I'm an embarrassment to the theatergoing industry? Absolutely not. I think it's fair to say you shouldn't wear anything that would make your mother blush at Christmas dinner, but there's no need to go overboard. I've seen women wear things that, while dressy, would make a prostitute blush by the amount of cleavage or booty they're showing. Give me a fully-covered, neat looking person in jeans any day of the week.
I have several friends who work in the industry (actors, etc.) who look a heck of a lot worse when they come out the stage door than I do. Now we can go to the argument that "are they obligated to the public once the curtain goes down" that we've dredged up before. But I just thought I would throw in that persepective.
If it's a weekend, I'll throw on anything I darn well please -- sometimes it's a skirt. Sometimes it's jeans (albeit clean jeans) and a cool top. Sometimes I wear nice shoes, sometimes I wear nice sneakers, and sometimes I wear (gasp) flip-flops.
Do I think I'm an embarrassment to the theatergoing industry? Absolutely not. I think it's fair to say you shouldn't wear anything that would make your mother blush at Christmas dinner, but there's no need to go overboard. I've seen women wear things that, while dressy, would make a prostitute blush by the amount of cleavage or booty they're showing. Give me a fully-covered, neat looking person in jeans any day of the week.
I have several friends who work in the industry (actors, etc.) who look a heck of a lot worse when they come out the stage door than I do. Now we can go to the argument that "are they obligated to the public once the curtain goes down" that we've dredged up before. But I just thought I would throw in that persepective.
#18
Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:45pm
Bump for Blue-Eyed Wonder.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#19
Posted: 3/14/08 at 8:41am
Dress respectful for yourself and the actors. Act as though it is a special
evening out - - - - and it is!
evening out - - - - and it is!
#20
Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:52am
Just look presentable! Justme2 said it perfectly.
Hunter: Your teeth need whitening./ Heidi: You sound weird./ Jeff: You taste funny.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
#21
Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:03am
Hi There! I really hope you enjoy your first Broadway Show. It is such a great experience. Having worked in Broadway Theaters for years I can tell you that the best way to go is just wear something that would be appropriate to wear to work. Dress Slacks with a nice top is fine for both men and ladies. Skirts and Dresses are also fine for ladies too. On Friday or Saturday evenings you may even see people slightly more dressed up. But if you stick to Business Casual wear you will not feel over or under dressed. Also just as a note.. the actors DO notice and appreciate people who dress for the theater. I have had them comment to me about it before. My general feeling is that going to a show should be an event. Dress Nicely and then go to a nice dinner before or after the show and make a night of it.
Have a Great Time!
Have a Great Time!
#22
Posted: 3/14/08 at 2:04pm
Hopefully they already enjoyed it. The question was asked 2.5 years ago. 
#23
Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:30pm
Haha, hopefully anyone who had the same question had everything cleared up for them then.
#24
Posted: 3/15/08 at 1:56pm
And guys, you all should have a well-fitting black sportcoat/suit jacket in your wardrobe. Not a blazer mind you (double-breasted with fancy gold nautical buttons or anything like that), the simpler the better. Wearing one of these will immediately pull your look together (within reason)... very sleek with nice jeans or khakis/cords, and you can even get away with wearing a nice t-shirt (not a ratty Hanes) underneath. H&M always seems to offer a few inexpensive jackets. You may go for a subtle pinstripe, or even consider one in darker grey/charcoal to spare you the whole black and brown dilemma. Grey will go nicely with black, brown, navy, oxblood... You'll look nice for the theatre, and for drinks before, during (intermission), and after the show.
And no one should be wearing flip-flops in a congested big city anyway. Forget the vile puddles, or that business about stepping on hypodermic needles and broken crack pipes... inevitably, someone will step on the back of your foot, or you'll be doing that vomit-inducing flip-flop shuffle and one of them will fall off and you'll hop around on one foot like a dumbass causing a ten person sidewalk pile-up as you meekly try to locate your footwear. Wear clean sneakers, or Skechers, Steve Maddens, et cetera...
And whoever started this pajama pants as slacks trend deserves a thousand lashes in public. If you put your flip-flopped feet on the back of my seat, I reserve the right to snatch one off and swat your pajama'd tail like your Momma should've.
And no one should be wearing flip-flops in a congested big city anyway. Forget the vile puddles, or that business about stepping on hypodermic needles and broken crack pipes... inevitably, someone will step on the back of your foot, or you'll be doing that vomit-inducing flip-flop shuffle and one of them will fall off and you'll hop around on one foot like a dumbass causing a ten person sidewalk pile-up as you meekly try to locate your footwear. Wear clean sneakers, or Skechers, Steve Maddens, et cetera...
And whoever started this pajama pants as slacks trend deserves a thousand lashes in public. If you put your flip-flopped feet on the back of my seat, I reserve the right to snatch one off and swat your pajama'd tail like your Momma should've.
#25
Posted: 3/15/08 at 3:23pm
There is no dress code.
Whear whatever makes you comfortable, within reason.
No sweats or rags or tank tops.
Clean jeans, nice tee-shirt or polo, and sneakers are fine.
Remember, it's your experience to enjoy, don't worry about looking snappy for total strangers. The actor are on the stage, that's what everyone should be looking at.
Whear whatever makes you comfortable, within reason.
No sweats or rags or tank tops.
Clean jeans, nice tee-shirt or polo, and sneakers are fine.
Remember, it's your experience to enjoy, don't worry about looking snappy for total strangers. The actor are on the stage, that's what everyone should be looking at.
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