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When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a performance?

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#1

When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a performance?

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:01pm

This has bothered me for a while now when I go to the theater and I was just wondering if anyone knew when around it became acceptable for people (Sorry but it is mainly girls) to scream their heads off during a performance? Whether it's upon someone's entrance, at the end of a song or, now a days, even at the first note of a song; does this high pitched screaming bother anyone else or am I just being too picky as to what to expect nowadays?

#2

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:06pm

Don't go to a last show then. I get that people are expressing love for a show, but be respectful. It really takes me out of show and decreases my enjoyment for that night. Adam and Anthony's first in RENT and John Groff and Lea Michele's last in SA were painful.

Updated On: 9/20/08 at 09:06 PM

#3

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:12pm

I think it's hugely disrespectful. I really can't stand it. I went to see the non-equity RENT tour and everyone was screaming like banshees for actors they'd (probably) never heard of before. After the first "Seasons of Love" soloist about 400 (I'm not exaggerating) people started yelling and it completely drowned out the second solo. At the end of songs it's appropriate to clap, in my opinion. But you really should save your cheering for curtain call.

/end rant
#4

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:12pm

Funny you say that, winter_sky. I saw a show this afternoon and was just so aggravated I debated on if I should use my tickets for the final TITLE OF SHOW or not because I just don't have the patience to deal with the amount of screaming that will undoubtedly be happening that day.
#5

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:13pm

It's not only girls that scream during a show. I went to LBB's last show and that was kinda ridiculous. Even Bruiser got a scream and it scared him half to death. At Stephanie J. Blocks last show she got alot of applause but only at the end of the songs and when she flew(Which in all the times I have seen her never happened). It was very calm.
Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!
#6

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:16pm

It started when fangirls started thinking the show's all about THEM, not what's happening on stage.

And I would say it depends on the show, most definitely.

I don't think Cherry Jones got that reception during "Doubt."
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#8

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:34pm

It gives me such a headache and it's deafening. I know some people think it's a huge sign of appreciation but it's really distracting for the people seeing the show for the first time. ACL's last show was the best one I have been to in terms of respect from the audience. Passing Strange's wasn't horrific either.

I love when people say "if you don't like it, don't come". No offense, but I'm paying to see a show, not hear a bunch of people screaming so loud I leave with a headache.
#9

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:36pm

I actually think it works in Rent, to an extent. How can you not "woo" when the guitars for "Out Tonight" crash in?

HOWEVER, it irritates me when people scream at the sad songs, like "I'll Cover You: Reprise," for instance. It's heartbreaking; there should be no screams from the audience.
#11

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:44pm

People always woo for certain parts and I'm totally cool with that. Applauding at the beginning of "Rent", when "Out Tonight" kicks up, mooing along during Over the Moon but these people were screaming EVERY SINGLE TIME ANTHONY RAPP MOVED and were yelling out actor's names. Like during songs they would be like "I LOVE YOU ADAM!". That's ridiculously inappropriate.
#15

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 11:01pm

I did think it was amusing when the girl in back of me the other night at [Title of Show] said afterwards to her friend, "Can you believe Susan looked right AT me?!?!" And I turned to her and said "No, sh*t she looked right you, you were screaming like a f*cking banshee through the whole show. Everyone was staring at you"

I guess I ruined the illusion for her that Susan wanted to be her friend...
#16

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 11:51pm

Didn't you know? They're totally bff's now that she looked RIGHT AT HER.

Im guilty of the loud, appreciative WOOOOOOO!!!! but only at the appropriate time. Especially since mine is QUITE distinct.
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA

If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...

#17

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 11:55pm

When I saw Wicked on tour, the fangirls in audience screamed like it was a rock concert when the lights went down and the show started. They screamed when Stephanie J. Block made her entrance, and again when Defying Gravity started. Two of them were in my row and each time they screamed, everyone in the row turned and glared at them. Either they were really dense or really dumb cause they continued to scream!
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Updated On: 9/20/08 at 11:55 PM

#19

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/20/08 at 11:58pm

It's all the idiot teen age girls who can't tell a theatrical performance from a concert. Along with the notices about cell phones, picture taking etc. there should be a strong "DO NOT SCREAM DURING THE PERFORMANCE OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE THEATER" announcement.
#20

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/21/08 at 12:09am

Because screaming is annoying and completely unnecessary? You want to show appreciation? Clap. If you're really moved, give a standing ovation at curtain call. Not after songs.

It really doesn't make the show more exciting and it shouldn't feel like a rock concert since it's not. It's theatre. There are certain examples (Passing Strange for instance) where it's appropriate but for Spring Awakening and RENT it's not.

Updated On: 9/21/08 at 12:09 AM

#22

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:18am

Of all the theater behavior to be annoyed with (talking, eating, wrapper-sounds, cellphones, cellphone lights, arriving late) people being too loud when the cheer is definitely near the bottom of the annoying list. I myself never hoot/holler/scream during a show, its not my style, but when the entire theater is clapping ANYWAY, I dont see why some clapping-related screams are getting people so irritated. I'd prefer for people to be excited about theater....and cheering while everybody else is clapping is fine. It doesnt' mean that they will start acting like a Jerry Springer guest.
#23

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:26am

"In response to the question; is this in reference to modern theatre? Shouting and yelling was plenty apparent way back in the day...Does the word GREECE mean anything to you?"

I'm obviously referring to modern theatre. Theater etiquette in ancient Greece was quite different than today. What I'm referring to is the screaming that people do when Patti LuPone finishes a song (Any song. Pick one, it doesn't matter) or when Heidi Blickenstaff finishes singing a beautiful ballad or when (God Forbid) Adam Pascal even steps foot on a stage.

People know what I'm referring to.
#24

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:35am

I see where youre coming from now. I think that actually may be the reason why I never want to see shows like Gypsy, Legally Blonde, or that one.......Grey Gardens, that theater people (sorry BWWers) seem to lose their minds over. I could see where all the hysteria would make somebody resist the show.
#25

re: When did it become acceptable for the audience to scream during a perfo

Posted: 9/21/08 at 2:50am

I will let out an occasional "wooooo" when I think it's deserved, but ONLY while everyone is applauding between numbers and NEVER when a performer is speaking/singing.

(And note I typed "wooooo" and not "WOoooOOoooOOO-KRISTIN-OMGZ-I-LUV-YOU!!!!!!!!!!")

"I'm seeing the LuPone in Key West later this week. I'm hoping for great vocals and some sort of insane breakdown..." - BenjaminNicholas2

Updated On: 9/21/08 at 02:50 AM

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