Theatre Etiquette
A performing arts event is the result of a lot of hard work. Performing artists have trained, planned, prepared, rehearsed, and are ready to present their best performance. The arts managers have developed funding, marketing and promotional materials, ticketing and program information. Technicians and house staff have prepared the venue, conditioned the atmosphere, rehearsed lighting, sound, and special effects in support of the performers.
Our friends, families, neighbors, business associates, and elected officers have volunteered to provide leadership, management skills and funding by buying tickets and giving gifts of money to ensure the health of active and productive arts organizations. All of this is prepared for the comfort, education, entertainment, enjoyment and cultural enrichment of the whole community. Each member of the arts audience also should be prepared.

How to be a prepared audience member:
Before the performance:
   • Read the play or opera or read articles, critiques of summaries about the work in the      library.
   • Listen to the music or read about the musical work.
   • Attend the pre-concert lecture.

At the performance:
   • Dress appropriately for the occasion. The Kennedy Center in Washington DC provides
     an appropriate model for dress. America’s art center is accessible to everyone. One
     can see concert-goers in formal attire and tee shirts with blue jeans at the same event.
        º Art is a celebration of life. If you can’t be art – wear art.
        º Baseball caps are not art.
   • Taking flash photography and using video light is never appropriate.
        º Flash and video lights in a performer’s eyes can be dangerous to the performer.
        º Flashes disrupt the lighting effects, and the pleasure of the other audience
          members who came to see the performance.
        º Performers own the copyright of their image and performance – when you take a           photo you are stealing their property.
        º Flash attachments are only effective within about eight feet of the subject –
          using a flash beyond that distance is a signal that the flasher is rank, rude,
          and uniformed.
        º Taking flash photography will get you thrown out of the event.
   • Always arrive well before the performance time – others did. They paid for their
      tickets and deserve to enjoy the best performance without disturbances.
        º Late arrivals will be seated at the pleasure of the ushers – it is their job to
          enforce this rule.
        º Entering the auditorium while the music is playing is rude and disrespectful.
   • Talking and making comments are inappropriate.
   • Receiving telecommunications or audible alarm signals is inappropriate in a      performance. If it chirps, rings, beeps, or whistles, turn it off.
        º However, the house manager will assist any medical and other critical response           personnel by receiving and relaying messages.
   • Applause is always appropriate – in the right places:
        º Jazz and popular music:
              • Performers of jazz music appreciate applause after a solo within a song.
              • Popular music performers receive applause after each song.
        º Orchestral or choral music are frequently performed in "movements" which are           sections of the entire work that are distinct. The music often stops between           "movements."
              • One does not applaud between "movements."
        º Recitalists – solo or ensembles of "classical style" sometimes called "serious"
          music or "art song"
              • Recitalists frequently arrange their performance in groupings by composer
                or by language.
              • One does not applaud between songs in a grouping.
        º Opera is arranged as in theatre in scenes and acts, the solo performers sing           recitative, arias and ensembles (duet, trio, etc.)
              • Recitative is sung story-telling that moves the action
              • Arias and ensembles are the character "songs" of the opera and are
                frequently included in recitals or concerts.
              • Performers appreciate applause after and aria or an opera ballet if the
                action of the story allows a pause in the music.
              • Encores are not usually performed in opera
              • Curtain calls in opera frequently include appreciative shouts of approbation.
              • In Italian language opera one can hear "Bravo" for male, "Brava" for the
                female performers and "Bravi" for the ensemble. "Ole" is the Spanish
                equivalent. We discourage "Yee-Ha!" and "Wha-Hoo!"
              • There is no human society that does not sing.
        º Music Theatre performers appreciate applause after a song or dance
          combination
              • "Show stopping tunes" frequently receive encores
        º Theatre performers are trained to "wait for it" when laughter and applause
          greets their characterizations.
              • The set designer appreciates the curtain rise applause
              • Familiar performers are frequently applauded when the make their first
                entrance and their last exit.
        º Circus and Variety Performances – applause in circus acts of physical strength,
          grace and skill and illusions of the magician seldom receive enough applause.
              • The performer can hear you just as clearly as you can hear the performer.
              • Your enthusiastic applause encourages the best performance. Cheer them
                on to even greater exhibitions.
        º Dance Theatre and Ballet
              • Dancers are among the best-trained athletes you may eve see in person.
                It takes daily training to keep their bodies in top condition that makes their                 leaps, lifts and twirls seem easy – It’s not easy and falls happen. Before you                 laugh or criticize try to do it yourself.
              • Telling a story, expressing thoughts and emotions with movement through                 space, light and time deserves applause and shouts of joy.
        º Le Grande Reverence – The "Curtain Call" The final bow and ovation is the           opportunity for you and the performers to acknowledge your mutual appreciation
          for being well prepared for the performance.

    • Laughter makes you live longer.
        º He who does not laugh has no heart. He who does not laugh at himself
          has no soul.
        º The difference between a "wit" and a "wag" is that a "wit makes jokes about
          himself while a "wag" makes disparaging comment about others.
        º With the possible exception of the play "Ten Nights in a Bar Room," we
          would eschew you the choice of PAINTING YOUR BELLY BLUE AND SHOUTING
          "SAAA WING, BATTA, BATTA, BATTA!"

Courtesy of Sarah Graham Kenan Auditorium,University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC

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