So you have a ticket to a Broadway show! Now what? Are you excited? Do you know what to expect -- and what is expected of you?
A happy PS Broadway student settles in at his visit to see 42nd St. on Broadway.
Photo by Rosalie O’Connor. The experience of going to see a live Broadway show is unique. Unlike going to the movies, the actors can see and hear you just as you can see and hear them. There is an amazing exchange of energy between the actors onstage and the audience members. While this dynamic can make for an incredible experience, remember that it means you have responsibility as an audience member to make it the best show possible!
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you take your trip to the theater:
1. Your ticket will have a seat number on it. That seat is reserved just for you. An usher will give you a playbill and help you find your seat in the theater.
2. Take a look at your playbill. It will be a guide to the show for you. It contains pictures of the actors, a list of characters, a list of the musical numbers in the show (if it is a musical) and articles about Broadway. The playbill also lists the other shows each actor has been in.
3. You should use the restroom before the show begins, and not get out of your seat while the show is being performed.
4. A musical typically opens with an overture, which is the time when the orchestra plays a “preview” of all of the songs the audience will hear in the show. Although no actors are onstage during this time, it is important to remember that the show has started and audience members should remain quiet and attentive, enjoying the music played by the talented orchestra.
5. ou should not eat, chew gum, or drink any beverages while watching the show.
6. While it is appropriate to respond to funny, shocking, or entertaining moments of the play out loud, you should be aware of the other audience members around you and respect their enjoyment of the play by not talking during the play or responding with loud, inappropriate reactions.
7. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off, and generally, anything that makes noise should not be brought into the theater.
8. These days, Broadway audiences wear anything from sequined gowns to ripped jeans to the theater. Rosie's Broadway Kids suggests wearing something in between, staying away from jeans or sweatpants.
9. It is customary to applaud at the end of songs, and at the curtain call, when the actors come out to take their final bows. Throughout the show, audience members may choose to applaud in the middle of a song, dance, or speech, when something particularly outstanding has just been performed.
10. Enjoy the show!