Open post to the group from Texas at the 10/19 Kinky Boots

[Christoph]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 2:18pm

Usually I am pretty laid back about audience behavior at shows prior to the start of the performance and do my best to mind my own business, but there was apparently a platoon of Texans in town and attending the 10/19 show of Kinky Boots and surrounding my party, who succeeded in reminding me why Texas will not be high on my travel itinerary any time soon. In the off chance that any of them read this board (which is a real off chance), they might like to keep in mind for future trips/performances any of the following:

1. While it is nice to have pride in your birthplace, it is really not necessary to announce louder than everyone in the room that you are from Texas...and then repeat it at the same ear-shattering decibel roughly every 6 minutes.

2. If there are replacements at your performance and NONE of them are for the lead roles or roles of any major substance, that is not a call to start having a loud argument about demanding your money back because "the original cast" is not performing and you have understudies.

3. It is bad enough to be reminded every few moments that you are from Texas, but it is even more unnecessary to announce to all and sundry that you are "Conservatives from Texas". Trust me, no one cares.

4. No one need also hear in ear-shattering tones that you cannot possibly discuss what play you saw and will need to lie to acquaintances back home because as "conservatives from Texas", no one would understand you seeing a show prominently featuring a drag queen. With all due respect on this point, since several of you indicated you had seen the film on which the show was based, I am hard-pressed to understand why the ticket buyers for your party would have selected a Broadway show to see that you then felt you could not discuss openly and needed to lie about seeing. But then that is just me.

5. Further to the announcement of being "conservatives from Texas", no one is similarly interested in one of the male members of your party who felt compelled to partially rise from his seat to announce in full bellow how he thought Ted Cruz was the greatest statesman in the world and then stop to pan around the mezzanine to see if anyone was paying attention to him. When it became obvious that he was blatantly being ignored, he felt compelled to return to his sitting position and announce to his comrades that he had hoped he had "upset some liberals". If this gentleman's sole reason for attending the theater is hoping to "upset some liberals", his comrades may want to leave him at the hotel (or best back in the sainted Texas) because it seems such a waste of energy to put that much effort into something so silly and then not get any reactions at all from the people around you.

And on that note, I would like to thank Broadway World forum participants to allow me my rant regarding pre-theater etiquette.

Updated On: 10/29/13 at 02:18 PM

[carousel94]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 2:31pm

I really wish there was a like button on this site. Very well said Christoph, what an obnoxious group.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 2:35pm

Thanks for sharing...seriously!

I hope they weren't too disappointed when they found out Pricilla Queen of the Desert was closed and they had to settle for less Drag Queen for their dollars.

Anyone suggest that they go attend Naked Boys Singing for a second show?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 2:37pm

Sounds like a really obnoxious bunch. Of course, not all Texans are like that. Just like how other states have really obnoxious people as so keenly illustrated by the Jersey Shore and Real Housewives franchises. Did anyone speak to an usher or was this merely pre-show and intermission annoyance?

Posted: 10/29/13 at 2:50pm

God what a pitiful Yankee whiner. Of course you don't understand why we need to announce we're from Texas! You're from NEW YORK CITY! I'd be ashamed too!

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 3:04pm

On another note, they wouldn't have seen the "original" cast anyway, ensemble members have since left, ie. Caroline Bowman and Eric Anderson, there may be others, but they come to mind at the moment. I hate ignorant theatre people, or people who go to a show every now and then and proceed to have discussions about how things work in the industry, those conversations are a riot to listen to- unfortunately in some cases he who knows the least speaks the loudest!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 3:24pm

We in NY have many similar problems so let us not be to quick to judge.

You have a point's on #'s 3 thru 5

Updated On: 10/29/13 at 03:24 PM

[evic]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 3:40pm

That is funny you mentioning "Texas" behavior. About 6 years ago, I was at Jersey Boys and a group of around 40 Texans were all wearing HUGE Election buttons with a Huge face of George Bush on it, as if to say FU to everybody in liberal ol' NYC. While they weren't as obnoxious as your group, I thought it odd that they had the need to display their choice. Well, if you wanna support a man who is responsible for 100,000 unnecessary deaths, knock yourself out. Good thing ANN closed- they may have caused a riot at the Beaumont-or God forbid shoot someone.

[amoni2]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 4:07pm

Look at a map and you'll see Texas is the asshole of the United States. Explains a lot.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 4:09pm

Kind of painting with a broad brush aren't we? You condemn a whole state for a few morons.

Do you also condemn all those who were in the audience who went and enjoyed it?

Updated On: 10/29/13 at 04:09 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 4:12pm

Holy smokes.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 5:23pm

At least the anti-Texans didn't say the Texans were being prejudiced or ignorant. Cuz that would just be hypocritical, right?

My mother still likes to display her Obama pins and bumper sticker "as if to say" FU evic because she is a liberal Texan, just like the majority of my friends and family.

What an idiotic thread.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 5:30pm

I have family in Texas and can confirm that there is an odd thing where you are reminded you are in Texas more often than anywhere else I've ever been. This is Texas-sized, that is Texas-raised, the other also includes Texas in some form of descriptor, as well. Even my relatives will start sentences with "Well, you're in Texas now..." to start a sentence that seemingly has nothing to do with one being in Texas. I've long given up on exploring what that is all about, although in fairness, New York City is pretty self-referential, as well, so maybe they had to over-Texas everything to counteract the NY vibe of Times Square?!

If anything, though, it does expose one part of the anatomy that is not Texas-sized, if you aren't able to tell someone the plot/characters of a show you enjoyed.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 5:42pm

Look at a map and you'll see Texas is the asshole of the United States. Explains a lot.

As a gay man, I can only assume you are highlighting the state's irresistible appeal.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 5:46pm

Mister Matt - 1 point
amomi2 - 0

[jdavisinaustin]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 6:07pm

OP, while I was not one of the Texans at KINKY BOOTS, as a citizen of Texas (and a conservative-ish person to boot), I apologize that you had such a lousy experience. Texans are a proud bunch, but there is a time and place for Texas pride. Usually that place is Texas itself.

Anyway, I apologize on behalf of my state. Keep in mind though we're a gigantic state; not all of us are assholes. Most of us are nice. Austinites are particularly friendly, but I'm a little biased.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 7:10pm

Always thought Texas was the US's taint. Taint Florida or the South and Taint California!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 7:43pm

Thanks for posting this. Very sorry these assholes ruined your experience. They are just lucky I wasn't sitting among them that night. Or actually, I'm lucky, because if I had been there, there is a strong chance I'd be in jail right now.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 10:24pm

As a Texan (not by birth, however), I'm appalled.

Seriously what jackasses! Not everyone in this state is like that by any means. They were probably drunk assholes - or just assholes.

And yes it is common for Texans to be proud of being from Texas - I think it ties back to Texas being an independent nation way back when. Updated On: 10/29/13 at 10:24 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 9:27am

First off to the OP, I am sorry that you had to go through that. Though it does seem to me, based upon some of the things that you had said, that they were seeking attention, and I'm glad no one gave it to them.

In any event, this reminds me of an evening I spent at Rent a couple of years back when it was still on Broadway. There were people who were clearly southern conservatives and during intermission they proceeded to laugh and make fun of things that many of us would consider to be " no big deal" for that show. Things like Angel being in drag or the fact that Maureen and Joanne were lesbians. Now, keep in mind that this was during the intermission in the lobby by the box office. They called the aforementioned plot points "gay SH*T" and on top of that they were smoking...in the lobby!! Now, this was towards the middle/end of Rent's run so I figured most of this stuff wasn't news to anyone due it being around for so long. Clearly I was wrong, but was happy to have seen an usher kick them out for smoking indoors but not before they tried to play the "entitled ticket buyer" card.

Or the time that the rodeo was in town and a group of "cowboys" were walking down 44th street, and said of me when I came out of the Broadhurst after having bought a ticket to the revival of Les Miserables, that I must be a fag for supporting fag s hit.

Not trying to say that all people from the south are close minded. Nothing like that at all. However, what I am saying is that they are out there and I am aware that both of those times, just like the OP, I happened to run into the worst of the worst.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 9:55am

I blame it on the sippy cups. I think alcohol should be banned at Broadway theaters.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 10:32am

Ban alcohol, food, candy - if you cannot survive without eating or drinking for 2 to 3 hours then go to the movies!

When I went to Jersey Boys and sat in the second row in the mezz - directly in front of me were low life trailer trash having a party, swaying, hands in the air, talking, dropping the wrappers etc. This is NOT a concert! After trying to ignore them I couldn't resist because they were completely distracting me from the story. The best part was...they were actually shocked when I asked them to please calm the party down.

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 10:36am

Of course this show is going to attract Texans. It's about boots!

[Patash]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 10:40am

"Kind of painting with a broad brush aren't we? You condemn a whole state for a few morons."

Huh? Has some of the original thread been removed? I fail to see anything said that even begins to condemn a whole state. The title said "group from Texas" and everything within the post was specifically stated to refer only to this very small group. Where was anything said that suggests the whole state was being condemned? I think someone needs a class in reading comprehension.

And to those who declare that New Yorkers are the same -- no, they aren't ALL. Of course there are some assholes from New York (as there are from everywhere) and no one would be wrong to condemn that group if they did the same things this group did.

I'm sorry so many people seem to fault the original poster for being upset with this behavior. It's amazing to me that anyone could actually defend such behavior, but why does that suprise me? People would rather blame someone who points out rudeness than blame someone who is being rude.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 10:54am

I fail to see anything said that even begins to condemn a whole state.

Did you read the other posts?

People would rather blame someone who points out rudeness than blame someone who is being rude.

Who did that? And who defended the behavior of the obnoxious group?