WSJ Culture Reporter Writes About Continually Leaving Shows at Intermission; Industry Responds

All over social media, actors and creative team members have been reacting to a Wall Street Journal article by Joanne Kaufman in which she writes, "I recently saw three Broadway shows in a single week. Actually, as is my unfortunate tendency, I'm overstating things a bit. To be scrupulously honest, I saw half of three Broadway shows. Intermissions came and I went."

In the article, "Confessions of a Broadway Bolter," Kaufman says she is "embarrassed by how unembarrassed" she is to admit to leaving at least eight recent Broadway productions during intermission, including "The Last Ship," "It's Only A Play," "Matilda," "Pippin," "Kinky Boots," "Billy Elliot," and more.

Many Twitter users felt that, as an arts writer, it is Kaufman's duty to stay for the entire performance, especially as she receives complementary press tickets.

Matt Bailey (@justMattBailey) "If Joanne Kaufman cant sit thru FREE performances of some of the best shows of the decade perhaps she needs a new job"

Darren Johnston (@DarrenEdward) "As an industry, can we agree to stop comp'ing someone so disrespectful of theater artists as @WSJ 's Joanne Kaufman?"

Duke Anderson (@DukeMonroe87) "The @WSJ Joanne Kaufman ought to be ashamed. An arts writer who can't sit thru a play is like an accountant who can't finish an equation."

Others were inspired by Kaufman's article to make confessions of their own.

Btomchik (@Bentomchik) "If #Broadway tix were cheaper, I'd bolt more often. MT Confessions of a Broadway Bolter http://on.wsj.com/15NELsp by Joanne Kaufman"

Cara Maresca (@CaraMaresca) "Ever thought of leaving halfway through a show? I've done it once. Confessions of a Broadway Bolter: http://on.wsj.com/1tFn82b h/t"

Erick L. Dicken (@eldicken) "Unlike this author, I would/did leave during act one when the situation warrants: Confessions of a Broadway Bolter http://online.wsj.com/articles/confessions-of-a-broadway-bolter-1417474916"

Read Kaufman's full article here.

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