What to wear to broadway...

[saccoco]

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?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 10:58am

Try this thread, it might help you.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=864055

[justme2]

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.

[Dollypop]

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.

[MyDreamsRecurring]

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

[Theatreboy33]

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.

[xM3L24x]

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.

[SorryGrateful]

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.

[Prisoner 24601]

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.

[QueenAnne82]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:02pm

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

[Fosse76]

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?

[Prisoner 24601]

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.

[Fosse76]

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.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 5:43pm

amen.

[theaterlover45]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 6:04pm

Fosse~ don't we pay enough money to see them peform.

[justme2]

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?

[BroadwayMel]

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.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:45pm

Bump for Blue-Eyed Wonder.

[kooky]

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!

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:52am

Just look presentable! Justme2 said it perfectly.

[Eponine3]

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!

[jpbran]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 2:04pm

Hopefully they already enjoyed it. The question was asked 2.5 years ago.

[LittlexFallxOfxRain]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:30pm

Haha, hopefully anyone who had the same question had everything cleared up for them then.

[Sandy in Sable]

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.

[waltero]

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.