Why are audiences so poorly behaved these days?- Page 4

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/13/25 at 1:09pm

Jordan Catalano said: "And Casey Likes posted something on IG about poor behavior at the stage door of “Heathers” which I’ll pretend I’m surprised to read. I’m surprised any of that cast deals with that insanity."

When I went last Sunday, it was definitely the largest stage door scene I’ve personally witnessed at NWS and, because the 49th St section is undergoing repairs/renovations, everyone enters and exits the same way, making it an utter poo show.

The people the night I went were relatively well behaved with the exception of the occasional entitled teenager that I put in their place and reminded them that this is a privilege, not a right. 

I think the craziness will eventually abate when the kiddies go back to school. (Which, honestly, why are there so many 8-12 year olds at this show? Do their parents not know the movie? Are they just willingly dense?)

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 7/13/25 at 1:33pm

Bette's Turban said: "I just read that and it makes me so angry. I won’t take it anymore. I am all for getting verbally aggressive . If they’re gonna ruin it for me, I’m gonna ruin it for them and make sure they never forget it"

I agree with this.  I have found that a simple, loud, aggressive, "shut the f-c- up " followed by a glare,  works wonders.  At first I thought I would be uncomfortable after.  But with time I have gotten fine with it.  You have to do what you have to do.   Better than sitting there all show waisting your money. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/13/25 at 2:03pm

I was hoping the incident at Gypsy would have made the victim sue.  Nothing will be done until it costs someone money.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/13/25 at 2:47pm

Sutton Ross said: "They do have security at every show but people have to speak up and say something."

My point was that the ushers and security need to be present and alert inside the theater, during the show, keeping an eye on the audience.

It should not be the responsibility of the patron to further disrupt the performance to report disruptive behavior. 

If an usher can hear or see a phone or hear or see someone talking for an extended period of time (as I’ve experienced before and as happened at PURPOSE on 7/11, it seems), then they should take action. Or they should call in the security to take action. Period. 

Updated On: 7/13/25 at 02:47 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/13/25 at 2:52pm

I completely agree they should take action but they rarely do. Ushers have told me for many years "I don't get paid enough to deal with that" or "I dont want to get assaulted". While valid complaints, that forces patrons to confront these garbage audience members. Frustrating for sure but that's the reality now. You saying "Ushers should be seen more" will do absolutely nothing. Zero will change unless someone brings in a weapon or someone nearly dies from being assaulted. Period. 

Updated On: 7/13/25 at 02:52 PM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 10:43am

From The Sondheim Hub's

A Conversation with John Rapson, Broadway's Beadle Bamford today:

There was also the night that a woman was vaping in the audience on Broadway, and had been able to hide it despite protests from people around her for the first two-thirds of Act I. During my scene with the Judge right before “Ladies in Their Sensitivities,” the ushers came and kicked her out of the theater. She was dragged out, kicking and screaming. We heard some commotion going on, but we didn’t know what had been happening.

Jamie Jackson turned to me, and he said, “In order to shield her from the evils of this world, I have decided to marry Johanna next Monday.” The audience burst into applause, because this woman had been kicked out. But the two of us had no idea what was going on. It was as if the Judge had become the romantic hero of the story. We both turned out to the audience, which got a huge laugh. We were like, “We’re in an audience of sickos who are applauding the Judge and the Beadle.”

 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 11:41am

Sutton Ross said: "I completely agree they should take action but they rarely do. Ushers have told me for many years "I don't get paid enough to deal with that" or "I dont want to get assaulted". While valid complaints, that forces patrons to confront these garbage audience members. Frustrating for sure but that's the reality now. You saying "Ushers should be seen more" will do absolutely nothing. Zerowill change unless someone brings in a weapon or someone nearly dies from being assaulted. Period."

I was assaulted while ushering at MJ. To stop filming and he got up out of his seat and an intermission shoved me against the wall, screaming at me and beating me. I was not given another shift. he claimed that I was making a racial aggression by telling him that he could not film the performance, and said I was “racially insensitive”. I would’ve told anybody to put their phone away because that was my job. Had nothing to do with who he was, or who I was. So yeah, they don’t get paid enough. And the theaters don’t protect them.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 12:13pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "Sutton Ross said: "I completely agree they should take action but they rarely do. Ushers have told me for many years "I don't get paid enough to deal with that" or "I dont want to get assaulted". While valid complaints, that forces patrons to confront these garbage audience members. Frustrating for sure but that's the reality now. You saying "Ushers should be seen more" will do absolutely nothing. Zerowill change unless someone brings in a weapon or someone nearly dies from being assaulted. Period."

I was assaulted while ushering at MJ. To stop filming and he got up out of his seat and an intermission shoved me against the wall, screaming at me and beating me. I was not given another shift.he claimed that I was making a racial aggression by telling him that he could not film the performance, and said I was “racially insensitive”. I would’ve told anybody to put their phone away because that was my job. Had nothing to do with who he was, or who I was. So yeah, they don’t get paid enough. And the theaters don’t protect them."

Ammmmmerica today in a nutshell 

sorry to hear this 

[DAME]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 12:28pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "Sutton Ross said: "I completely agree they should take action but they rarely do. Ushers have told me for many years "I don't get paid enough to deal with that" or "I dont want to get assaulted". While valid complaints, that forces patrons to confront these garbage audience members. Frustrating for sure but that's the reality now. You saying "Ushers should be seen more" will do absolutely nothing. Zerowill change unless someone brings in a weapon or someone nearly dies from being assaulted. Period."

I was assaulted while ushering at MJ. To stop filming and he got up out of his seat and an intermission shoved me against the wall, screaming at me and beating me. I was not given another shift.he claimed that I was making a racial aggression by telling him that he could not film the performance, and said I was “racially insensitive”. I would’ve told anybody to put their phone away because that was my job. Had nothing to do with who he was, or who I was. So yeah, they don’t get paid enough. And the theaters don’t protect them."

I don't understand this.  Aren't there CCT cameras in the theater and on the audience for just these kind of things?  They have them in LA and in a lot of the touring houses.  They are used stricktly for security, 

Updated On: 7/16/25 at 12:28 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 1:08pm

iluvtheatertrash said:  I was assaulted while ushering at MJ. To stop filming and he got up out of his seat and an intermission shoved me against the wall, screaming at me and beating me. I was not given another shift.he claimed that I was making a racial aggression by telling him that he could not film the performance, and said I was “racially insensitive”. I would’ve told anybody to put their phone away because that was my job. Had nothing to do with who he was, or who I was. So yeah, they don’t get paid enough. And the theaters don’t protect them."

Yes, you mentioned that before and I'm so sorry that happened to you. MJ has extremely rowdy audiences that act like Michael will be performing. It's....very odd. Your statement proves my point, no one should have that happen to them ever and I doubt ushers are paid all that much.

People saying ushers' presence in the theater is enough and will somehow stop people from illegal behavior is incredibly ignorant. 

[Papi2013]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 4:36pm

DAME said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "Sutton Ross said: "I completely agree they should take action but they rarely do. Ushers have told me for many years "I don't get paid enough to deal with that" or "I dont want to get assaulted". While valid complaints, that forces patrons to confront these garbage audience members. Frustrating for sure but that's the reality now. You saying "Ushers should be seen more" will do absolutely nothing. Zerowill change unless someone brings in a weapon or someone nearly dies from being assaulted. Period."

I was assaulted while ushering at MJ. To stop filming and he got up out of his seat and an intermission shoved me against the wall, screaming at me and beating me. I was not given another shift.he claimed that I was making a racial aggression by telling him that he could not film the performance, and said I was “racially insensitive”. I would’ve told anybody to put their phone away because that was my job. Had nothing to do with who he was, or who I was. So yeah, they don’t get paid enough. And the theaters don’t protect them."

I don't understand this. Aren't there CCT cameras in the theater and on the audience for just these kind of things? They have them in LA and in a lot of the touring houses. They are used stricktly for security,"

I can't imagine they don't have CCTV cameras at broadway theaters.  

[ER765]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 7:21pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "Sutton Ross said: "I completely agree they should take action but they rarely do. Ushers have told me for many years "I don't get paid enough to deal with that" or "I dont want to get assaulted". While valid complaints, that forces patrons to confront these garbage audience members. Frustrating for sure but that's the reality now. You saying "Ushers should be seen more" will do absolutely nothing. Zerowill change unless someone brings in a weapon or someone nearly dies from being assaulted. Period."

I was assaulted while ushering at MJ. To stop filming and he got up out of his seat and an intermission shoved me against the wall, screaming at me and beating me. I was not given another shift.he claimed that I was making a racial aggression by telling him that he could not film the performance, and said I was “racially insensitive”. I would’ve told anybody to put their phone away because that was my job. Had nothing to do with who he was, or who I was. So yeah, they don’t get paid enough. And the theaters don’t protect them."

How awful. I’m so sorry this happened to you.