Can you go to the toilet during a theatre show?
We know that queues for the toilet in a theatre can be as long as the Nile, but getting up during the performance to empty your bladder is not acceptable, it's distracting to those around you and often to those on stage.
Re: Broadway show etiquette re bathroom? There's no need to document anything or to request any special treatment. Simply purchase an aisle seat, perhaps avoid sitting down front so you don't have as far "to go" as it were...
- A bad dress rehearsal means the show will be a hit. ...
- Blue should not be worn on stage. ...
- Never light a trio of candles. ...
- Turn on the ghost light before leaving the theatre. ...
- Never bring a peacock feather on stage. ...
- Mirrors on stage are bad luck. ...
- Whistling backstage in a theatre is considered a jinx.
- Dress for the occasion. ...
- Be on time. ...
- Go to the restroom before you sit down, or at the intermission, not during the performance. ...
- Unwrap any cough drops or candy before the show begins. ...
- Do not fidget. ...
- Keep your shoes on.
There is no law against walking out the door during intermission, but it can be a dilemma. You're at a concert or a play and for whatever reason decide you don't really want to go back for the second half of the performance. If enough people think the same thing, it can mean a lot of empty seats after the break.
At 1:15 into the movie, you get a 60-second intermission. Which, of course, you can extend if you need to- but this is when I'd suggest you go, run and pee during Hamilton. You won't interrupt the musical pacing if you wait until this moment to go ahead and hit pause.
Arriving early allows you to stroll the lobby, get a drink, attend any pre-concert lectures, check out the warm up action in the orchestra pit (the sunken area right in front of the stage), and go to the restroom (some operas are quite long, so it might be a while before you get another opportunity).
Macbeth. William Shakespeare's play Macbeth is said to be cursed, so actors avoid saying its name when in the theatre (the euphemism "The Scottish Play" is used instead).
Thank you five means like, all right, wrap it up, like put your costume on. Money note.
The colour blue
It's said to be bad luck to wear the colour blue onstage - the only way to counteract it is to accompany it with something silver. It's believed to have come from the early days of theatre when blue dye was very difficult (and expensive) to acquire.
What shouldn't an audience member do?
- People violating the actor's boundaries and consent by filming them naked while onstage, or flat out just filming at all when they shouldn't. - Audiences shouting out inappropriate things during a show. - Coming in late and loudly disrupting what's happening by loudly asking questions and trying to find their seat.
It is best to arrive at the theatre at least 30 minutes prior to the performance.

The simple answer is anything. Most theatres no longer have dress codes, so it doesn't matter what you wear. As long as you have a ticket for your performance, you'll be allowed into the venue. Both formal and informal clothing is accepted.
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to curtain to give yourself plenty of time, plus some wiggle room in case you get lost or want to look at the merchandise cart. The house typically opens 30 minutes before the stated curtain time.
It is a printed leaflet outlining the parts of the event scheduled to take place, principal performers and background information. In the case of theatrical performances, the term playbill is also used. It may be provided free of charge by the event organisers or a charge may be levied.
So, would it be necessary to wear a suit or a long gown? Definitely not. However, it's nice to keep the tradition alive and make a small effort. Dark jeans or pants with a button down shirt, camisole, or sundress/cocktail dress would probably be the most appropriate attire.
The musical's runtime is around 163 minutes, and if you go to see the musical live, the intermission in Hamilton comes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes into the show.
Synopsis. "Satisfied" begins with Angelica Schuyler's wedding toast for Alexander Hamilton and Eliza (her sister), then proceeds to rewind and retell the events of the previous song, "Helpless," from her own perspective.
Reasons include its “mediochre music”, “melodramatic plots”, “mateurishly hammy acting”, “forced and unpleasant singing style”, and opera's tendency to be “ridiculously over-supported by public funds”.
There is one golden rule: silence. Sit attentively in the dark house. Don't talk during the performance. Don't hum along with the music.
Is there a dress code for opera?
Look around the theatre and you'll see women in cocktail dresses, men in chinos, corporates in business suits, families in their Sunday best and tourists in whatever-they-were-wearing-that-day. There's no compulsory dress code. Wear what you'll feel comfortable in.
Whistling in the theatre is considered bad luck. This superstition started in the middle of the 1600s when theatrical scenery began to fly. Sailors had extensive knowledge of ropes, rigging and knots and were hired backstage as run crew.
This is an expression used mostly in the world of theatre to mean 'good luck'. Actors and musicians are never wished 'good luck'; before they walk on to the stage, they are usually told 'break a leg'. This form of wishing people is beginning to be used in other contexts as well.
Why is it bad luck to say "good luck" to an actor? Some thespians believe there are theatre ghosts or fairies who like to cause mischief by making the opposite of what you want to have happen occur. Phrases like "break a leg" and "merde" are meant to confuse these theatrical pixies and defeat their obstinate ways.
Every performance area, whether a stage or an open area in front of the room, has spaces that demonstrate power or weakness on the part of the speaker. The most powerful position in any room is front and center.
A ghost light is a single bulb left burning whenever a theatre is dark. Some argue that its function is to chase away mischievous spirits; others insist it lights the way for the ghosts that are said to inhabit virtually every theatre, keeping them happy and contented.
After a performance, bowing is a sign of gratitude to the audience for watching, listening, and enjoying. The excited claps from the audiences are an energetic thank you, while the performer's bow responds to these thanks in any way they see fit: it's the correct response to clapping.
Jewel tones like purple, teal, emerald green, or sapphire blue are highly saturated colors. They always look great on stage and on camera, and they work with most skin tones. Pastels can be an alternative palette when presenting in front of dark backdrops, but they can be more challenging for certain skin tones.
- Tip #1: Find what makes you unique and lean into it.
- Tip #2: Take up a lot of space.
- Tip #3: Cut silence from your shows.
- Tip #4: Choose your outfit to look the part.
- Tip #5: Involve the crowd.
- Tip #6: Break character – subtly.
Green costumes were thought to be bad luck for two reasons:
This gave it its original nickname, “the limelight.” True to its name, the limelight had a greenish glow to it, so if an actor wore green, he or she might not be visible when hit by the spotlight.
Is there a dress code for a Broadway show?
As long as you have a ticket for your performance, you'll be allowed into the venue. Both formal and informal clothing is accepted. From casual t-shirts, jeans and flip-flops to a cocktail dress or tuxedo, the spectrum of audience style is so broad that there is no specific dress code.
Can you bring a backpack into a Broadway theatre? Yes. Just make sure it's small enough to tuck in under your chair during the performance.
New Yorkers tend to wear clothes that are fashionable yet comfortable when they go to Broadway performances. You'll see native New Yorkers in everything from ultra-trendy outfits to classic, elegant evening wear. Men usually don't wear ties, unless it's a bowtie or there's a formal opening-night event.
If you don't need to pick up your tickets, it's generally fine to show up maybe 10 minutes before curtain. Get there earlier if you want to stop in the restroom, where the wait, for women, can be long.
The simple answer here is anything. From a casual t-shirt, jeans and trainers to a tuxedo or formal dress, there are no dress codes. You could turn up to the theatre wearing anything and be permitted entry.
Can I wear sneakers to a Broadway show? Technically sneakers are allowed, but I would avoid them if possible. Many people choose to wear dress shoes or boots, and sneakers can often look a bit too casual for the theatre setting.
The weather outside is cold, but Broadway theatres are warm and lively.
Most Broadway theaters do allow food at your seat (meaning snacks, not, say, a large pizza), but most Off-Broadway theaters do not (except in the lobby). Both Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters usually sell concessions, though security probably won't stop you from bringing a candy bar in your purse.
Generally speaking, late patrons who are seated in the orchestra may be held in the lobby until approximately 20 minutes after the performance begins. They are then escorted directly to their seats by an usher.
The stage door experience, which is often called 'stagedooring', provides the unique opportunity to meet Broadway's top celebrities. After the show, fans flock to the stage door for the chance to talk to the stars, get their playbill signed, and maybe even get a picture or two.
What should I wear to Hamilton?
However, it's nice to keep the tradition alive and make a small effort. Dark jeans or pants with a button down shirt, camisole, or sundress/cocktail dress would probably be the most appropriate attire.
A smart casual dress code is an attire that combines well-fitting, polished business wear with elements of casual attire like blouses, shirts, button-downs, dress pants, dark-wash jeans, and polished, practical footwear.
Matinee shows and weekday shows tend to have more casual wear compared to evening performances. After all, the people who are tourists are seeing the show in between the other activities they have planned for their trip. Casual wear can vary too. Sometimes, it's jeans and a shirt.
You are allowed to drink water, soft drinks, or alcoholic drinks that are purchased at the venue. Certain venues allow audiences to bring their own sealed refreshments, but most Broadway theatres do not.
The best seats are at least 4 or 5 rows back in the center up to about the 12th row. Most seats in the front mezzanine (up to 6 or so rows back) are also quite good. I sat near the back of the Orchestra to see Hair (about 3 rows from the back of the theater) and thought my seats were just fine.
Thursday night performances are the most desired, followed by Tuesday nights. Oddly enough, Wednesday night is relegated to fifth place, with Friday night taking third and Saturday night fourth.