CATA 171
Intro to Theatre and Cinema
Chapter 12
Take Your Seats, Please
A. Most Broadway shows start at 8 pm with a 2 pm matinee
C. Leave yourself enough time for unexpected delays
D. In NY, uptown/downtown traffic is considerably faster than crosstown
E. Shows typically start 2 to 5 minutes after announced curtain
1. Intentional to get as many people seated before the curtain as possible
2. Late patrons will be kept in the lobby up to 30 minutes before being sneaked in
a. Some lobbies have monitors but most don't
F. A good rule of thumb is to arrive 20 minutes early
1. Gives you time to use the rest room and avoid the masses at intermission
2. Gives you time to read the program
II. What to Wear
A. Not too fancy, not too casual
B. Fashions change from decade to decade and country to country
1. A few years ago, people often wore tuxedos and gowns to Broadway performances
a. Lobbies had cloakrooms for opera cloaks and wire racks under seats for tophats
2. American culture is much more relaxed today, so you should dress as you would for a restaurant.
a. If you are paying $80-$100 per seat, you would probably dress as you would for a restaurant of that price
b. Almost anything will be acceptable, but if you want to blend in and not stick out, try to wear what everyone else does
III. Before the Play Begins
A. Moving into the lobby, you will see a sign reading "reservations" or "will call"
1. Usually need to show your credit card or driver's license when picking up tickets
B. There will usually be a coat check room so you don't have to sit on your coat in the crowded seating area
C. You can usually acquire an assisted hearing device if someone in your party needs it
D. You will see signs warning of special effects which might cause discomfort to some
E. Someone will take your ticket and give you the stub with seat information
1. Stubs are an important part of the accounting procedure
a. Directors get 1.5 percent of the weekly gross: sometimes $10,000 on Broadway
F. Someone else will give you a playbill and often lead you to your seat
IV. The Playbill
A. Contains three kinds of information
1. What to read before play begins
2. What you might enjoy reading after
3. Advertisements
B. Come in all sizes
1. Single sheet xerox from a school play
2. Huge glossy $20 souvenir program
3. Most common 5x8 inch booklet
a. Near middle is the title page
I. Name of theatre
II. Title of Play
III. Names of collaborators
b. Further in is cast page
I. Name of character and relationship to other characters
I. Tells where each scene is set
e. Dramaturgy
I. Written by dramatug (literary constultant)
f. Inserts of changes for the day
V. Starting the play
A. 3 minutes before start buzzer, bell or recording (electronic device warning)
B. Houselights Dim
C. Curtainwarmers up
D. Announcement of understudies
V. Watching the play
A. Theatre Etiquette
B. Response to Actors is Important
