Why are audiences so poorly behaved these days?

I’ve experienced a bit of a phenomenon lately: audiences who are terribly behaved. From everything from off Broadway shows to big Broadway musicals, it seems like no one can sit still, keep their phones off, be quiet, be courteous, and be respectful to their fellow theatergoers anymore. And ushers seem to rarely get involved.


You’d think the Covid shutdown would’ve helped reinforce proper etiquette, but it seems to have only further enabled people to behave like assh*les at the theater. (I strangely haven’t really experienced this phenomenon at movie theaters, though.)


So I guess my question is why? Why are theater audiences so horrible these days? What can theater staff and owners do to help remedy this issue?


Has anyone else experienced the same thing repeatedly or am I just horrifically unlucky? (Tangentially, did anything ever come from that audience altercation at GYPSY a few months back?)

Updated On: 6/19/25 at 09:36 PM

I’ve experienced this since shows re-opened. My theory is that it’s a combination of two things from years ago which have now firmly cemented the behavior.

- “I’m so happy live theatre is back and everyone in this theatre is gonna know how much I love theatre and the cast is gonna hear my appreciation for them.”

PLUS

- Lockdowns and pandemic times where people were encouraged to narc on the maskless, the unvaccinated, (heck even kids were calling out unmasked people) and essentially told to “say whatever you want because your health is more important”, and by extension, oneself is now more important than anyone else and can do or say whatever they want.

Updated On: 6/19/25 at 09:48 PM

BorisTomashevsky said: "I’ve experienced this since shows re-opened. My theory is that it’s a combination of two things from years ago which have now firmly cemented the behavior.

- “I’m so happy live theatre is backand everyone in this theatre is gonna know how much I love theatre and the cast is gonna hear my appreciation for them.”

PLUS

- Lockdowns and pandemic times where people were encouraged to narc on the maskless, the unvaccinated, (heck even kids were calling out unmasked people) and essentially told to “say whateveryou want because your health is more important”, and by extension, oneself is now more important than anyone else and can do or say whatever they want."

On your second point, I echo what Kad said.


On your first point, I think you’re missing my issue. I LOVE an expressive audience. That’s half of what makes the theatrical experience so special, in my opinion. The exchange of energy between actor and audience. In fact, the audience at Sunset Blvd. helped elevate the performance I was at. They were clapping and cheering (at all the right moments), which I love. It was electric. That’s not what my problem is. My problem is people talking, checking their phones, texting, getting up and down repeatedly, not sitting still, etc.

Agreed about ushers needing to step in.


it leaves the onus on the theatergoer to speak up which can go so left so fast. I’ve politely asked patrons to please stop talking before and been SCREAMED at.

Honestly, I think the agonies of the times are having a nihilistic, crazy-making effect on everyone. Just ask the airlines (another situation where you're surrounded by people in one space).

I feel like the conversation is too narrow because it ignores how much this sort of thing happens at the movies, too. My guess is that it's also happening at concerts and other performance venues. And it did not by any means beging with COVID. I think actually it's more like a lot of the people who were acting like jerks before COVID were the same jerks who refused to wear masks during COVID, rather than COVID instilling a new mindset.

I personally think it comes down to the insularity of contemporary life, going back to probably the early 00's. People who spend most of their times in their own homes, watching t.v. on connecting online aren't as well socialized about how to behave in pubic space. I also think our phones lead to the merging of public space with private space. And now, as we have a generation that grew up like this--as opposed to sinking into it in adulthood after an earlier life where they were taught better--it is only getting worse.

Updated On: 6/20/25 at 12:13 PM

I worked front of house and audience service jobs when I was in college and just out of it, now well over a decade ago. And people could be absolutely terrible then. I never witnessed any assaults or anything, but wild levels of entitlement, constant phone use or other inconsiderate acts, and bizarre, anti-social behavior were incredibly commonplace even back then. I'm sure anybody who has worked retail, hospitality, or other similar service jobs has tons of similar stories dating back years or decades.

It is kind of hard for me to determine if it has become more common or worse, or if we just now have more avenues for it to be seen and discussed via social media and are more attuned to it (the phenomenon of when you become aware of something, you see it everywhere). As far as I know, there are not hard statistics about things like this.

Updated On: 6/20/25 at 12:30 PM

Pre-show announcements seem to be in vain, as well.


I always shiver a bit when there isn’t one, mentally preparing for the inevitable alarm or phone ring. But I’ve been to a bunch of shows lately WITH an announcement (some even with the added reminder of a Playbill slip AND ushers holding signs) and phones are a problem, regardless.


No one gives a sh*t. It’s awful.

Updated On: 6/20/25 at 12:38 PM