I was just wondering if what I am about to say is becoming the new norm on Broadway.
I was recently at a performance of Les Miserabes, good seat side orchestra. The ushers were giving their usual speech of telling the audience to not take photos. Fine. However, at this performance I was at, an usher did something that I had never seen before. Rather than telling the people behind me to not take photos during the intermission, the usher offered to take their photo. And, furthermore, suggested that they then move in front of the pit so they could get a good shot of them with the curtain behind them. I hope to god that this was a one time situation of an usher showing poor judgment than it being the norm now on Broadway.
I think in that case it's just a show curtain, so who cares? It's not like you're filming the actual show? The actual inside of that theater, I'm sure, has been photographed many a time. So who cares?
Some shows care about the show curtain, others don't. It's up to the production, not the ushers. So, how nice of the usher to help.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I know and get that it's up to the production. Guess what baffled me about the whole thing is that the usher in question was one who was telling people to not take photos while inside the theatre. Yet, at intermission he did a total 180 and encouraged that.
Frankly, if it's something the producers are okay with, fine by me. It's just the guy doing a 180 by saying that one shouldn't take photos, then assist with having them taken at intermission is beyond me. Either the ushers get on the same page regarding whether or not taking pictures is kosher (clearly that depends on the show.)
Some shows care, some don't. Simple as that. GENERALLY shows that do not have a pre show curtain ask that you not take them. Here's an incomplete list of shows that I've found that they do or don't care if you take pictures of the stage/curtain before the show. These may have changed, but this is what I found when I saw them.