Upholding Latecomer Seating Policies (Pippin)

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 10:08am

From Pippin's website:

"WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE AT THE THEATRE?

Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain time. The performance begins promptly at the time noted on your ticket. Latecomers will be held until an appropriate break in the performance."

At the performance I attended, they let 6 different groups of people in (at different times) throughout the opening number. I was shocked. It was utterly distracting. Especially for such a rich opening, I was completely taken out of it.

On another note: The rest of the performance there were texters and picture takes and no ushers to enforce anything. Is it ok to snap your fingers in the man's ear who is sitting in front of you texting away. It made him put the phone away. Is it ok to lean forward and whisper, "cut it out," to the person taking photos infront of you. She quit.

How about a woman who was loudly fanning. Not only was it loud, but the object she used to fan herself was black on one side and stark white on the other creating a slo-mo-strobe-effect.

It was the weirdest night at the theatre.

Updated On: 10/22/14 at 10:08 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:01am

Welcome to the theater. This is commonplace now

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:09am

Has anyone else used the "finger-snap method?" I've tried it twice now and it worked both times. Once duing Inishmaan and once during Pippin.

Hoping I won't get punched for it someday.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:10am

I try not to do anything that physical. In between songs, I can usually shoot a dirty look and quietly ask them to stop.

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:15am

If the person is texting infront of you, then unfortunately there is no moment where an evil glance is an option. Plus I don't want to wait the entire song to get someone to quit texting. Nor does everyone else around.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:17am

I don't physically engage anyone I don't know. I've seen fist fights and people get thrown out.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:21am

At a show last year, a girl was texting in front of me. I told her to put it away and she didn't listen. Then I told her if she didn't, I'd take her phone and throw it on the stage so she put it away.

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:24am

I'm glad, Jordan. You stopped her from distracting everyone else around. I would have been very appreciative had i been at that performance.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:26am

Late seating "holds" are decided by company management, and no usher is going to seat people purposefully during this hold without permission (on rare occasions the hold is ignored, usually because a large group has arrived). Oftentimes the company management only dictates the first late seating cue. After that, it is the sole discretion of the ushers/house manager. I'm guessing that the seating that happened during the opening number at Pippin was due to an unusually large amount of latecomers.

As for texting and photography, contrary to popular belief, the ushers can't see everything that happens. And they certainly aren't going to hear everything in the audience either. Also, many shows are now prohibiting the ushers from doing anything about texting and picture-taking.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:27am

You know what I hate even more than that? It's the damn production team in previews. They'll sit anywhere in the theater on their iPads for the entire show. THAT's distracting and the fact that they don't know better boggles my mind.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:38am

I will lean over and tell them. If its rampant, I will tell an usher.

As for late seating: its up to them, period. And yes, it does suck.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:39am

I try not to make a huge disruption because that in and of itself is just as bad as what the offender is doing. Just as they don't have the right to disrupt the show, neither do you. (Plus I am a petite lady and don't want to get beaten up.)

[Patash]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:50am

The funniest part of the OP's listing of Pippin policies is the phrase "The performance begins promptly at the time noted on your ticket."

Do any shows start on time these days? It seems about 10 minutes late is the norm. No wonder people don't worry about arriving by the curtain time, most of them know it won't start on time anyway.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 12:10pm

I think its a lose lose situation for everyone.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 12:50pm

If there are always people arriving late as it is, I doubt the show's website should say they don't start at exactly the listed time. That would just result in more latecomers. The show is often being held for an abundance of latecomers, in addition to the normal few minutes, no?

[Alessio2]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 2:23pm

I live in LA and I attend all shows at the Pantages and the Ahmanson where all the national tours go. I attended Pippin last night and the audience could not have been more amazing. No texting, eating, talking etc. just a completely engaged audience. In fact this happens to be my experience everytime I go see theater here in LA.

There were some late comers and late seating which is always a bit distracting, but that didn't last too long. They sat the latecomers right after the opening number, not during!

Are NY audiences just way worse because they comprise of tourists from all over the world?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 2:25pm

I've definitely snapped in a person's ear on occasion when they are texting during a show. It certainly gets their attention because they are startled that someone has the balls to do it. I would hardly call that "getting physical" with someone.

I agree with the production team comment, Jordan. When I saw WHILE I YET LIVE in previews the guy making sure the cast was following the script had a full desk lamp clipped to the binder and he sat in the FRONT ROW. Why this person couldn't do their job from the last row and not distract an entire section of the audience is beyond me.

Re: late seating, I don't think it should be done at all. If it must then people should be required to sit on the sides of whatever section they're in. When I saw CURIOUS INCIDENT two elderly people tried to take their seats in the center of the third row orchestra. Needless to say there was a lot of disruption caused and it took me out of the opening moments of the show.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 2:37pm

Do any shows start on time these days? It seems about 10 minutes late is the norm. No wonder people don't worry about arriving by the curtain time, most of them know it won't start on time anyway.


The only show I've seen recently that starts right on time is Les Miz. Most are 5-7 minutes after the hour.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 2:40pm

"Also, many shows are now prohibiting the ushers from doing anything about texting and picture-taking."

Which shows are you talking about? The last four shows I went to the ushers were on anyone breaking the rules very quickly, one usher even made a girl cry at Les Mis. The worst was at Circle in the Square, where they constantly allowed people to disrespect Audra and the her musicians. There is no need to get physical, usually just talking to someone works. I saw a women elbow another woman which lead to a near brawl. It's not necessary.

I have never been late to a show, but I guess things happen so they should allow late seating only once, though. The constant stream of late comers is incredibly rude to cast, crew, and other patrons.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 3:09pm

Alessio2 - I agree. Generally, I've found LA audiences to be much more respectful and engaged. I'm sure the tourist thing is a factor - tourists don't come to LA to see theatre - but I'm sure not every bad apple in a Broadway audience is a tourist. There must be plenty of texters, chatters and latecomers from the tri-state area. I imagine, for some of them, while the theatre is nice, it's not as rare a treat as it is for many Southern Californians and that might explain some of the entitled, selfish behavior you see at a Broadway show.

[followspot]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 3:35pm

I see a lot of regional theater and encounter none of the audience behavioral issues we see at nearly every performance now in Broadway houses. Los Angeles audiences especially are a class act compared to NYC. Staffs of regional theaters are strict and professional, and audiences act accordingly. The staffs of Broadway houses act like they're working at a carnival, and audiences follow suit. But don't get me started...

[eperkins]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 4:40pm

"The staffs of Broadway houses act like they're working at a carnival, and audiences follow suit. But don't get me started..."

I think it's the reverse. It's the rude audience members who turn it into a carnival.

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 4:49pm

Clyde, that opening of Curious Incident is stellar. What a bummer to have that couple ruin it.

SPOILER

How could they even see where they were going? The lighting during that opening sequence is pretty intense. I was definitely very captured by it. Update: It's almost dangerous to have people going to their seats while that lighting effect is occurring.

Updated On: 10/22/14 at 04:49 PM

[followspot]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 6:22pm

"The staffs of Broadway houses act like they're working at a carnival, and audiences follow suit. But don't get me started..."

I think it's the reverse. It's the rude audience members who turn it into a carnival.

I'd call it a vicious circle, eperkins. When audience members have just stepped away from taking photos with Batman and Elmo and enter a theater where barkers are selling Twizzlers and sippy-cup cocktails, how are tourist audiences to know where a line is drawn?

Atmosphere dictates behavior. The Broadway theater district is currently an amusement park. Go to any U.S. regional theater and witness the difference.

Updated On: 10/22/14 at 06:22 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/22/14 at 6:30pm

"The staffs of Broadway houses act like they're working at a carnival, and audiences follow suit. But don't get me started"

That's simply not true, the majority of staff don't put up with asshole patrons.