Booing on Broadway

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 10:42am

Has anyone witnessed this? I don’t mean for the villain at curtain call.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 11:06am

Neither as an audience member nor as someone who worked on Broadway have I ever witnessed such booing (other than for cartoon villains). I believe it was more prevelant at opera houses, but is now rarely done. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 11:33am

Only with hardcore megafans. Sherie Rene Scott was heavily booed after she replaced Idina Menzel in ReNt. Not because she wasn't awesome but because people are childish.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 11:39am

Only once after a performance of “In My Life”. 

[musikman]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 11:44am

I’ve heard it a few times at the Met, almost exclusively for directors or creative teams with wildly ridiculous concepts or productions.  Don’t think I’ve ever heard it on broadway outside of villains.  

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 11:46am

There was a mezzo who was making her Met debut in IL TROVATORE a few years ago who not only got booed on opening night but had bouquets of broccoli and spinach tossed at her in place of the usual flowers. She withdrew from the production and (to the best of my knowledge) hasn't performed in the States since.

 

She really was bad, though.

Updated On: 7/18/22 at 11:46 AM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:02pm

The way things are on Broadway for the last bunch of years, not giving a show a "standing ovation" when it is done is probably the equivalent of "booing". I have never heard "booing" at a Broadway show.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:09pm

Earl in Waitress and Crown in Porgy and Bess. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:20pm

Sutton Ross said: "Earl in Waitress and Crown in Porgy and Bess."

 

(note the OP's caveat about villains)

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:21pm

You would have to be a special kind of a**hole to boo a Broadway performance. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:25pm

JBroadway said: "Sutton Ross said: "Earl in Waitress and Crown in Porgy and Bess."



(note the OP's caveat about villains)"

Um, the op stated " I don’t mean for the villain at curtain call" which was not what I was sharing. Shockingly, I know what I'm doing, thanks so much. 

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:48pm

Sutton Ross said: "JBroadway said: "Sutton Ross said: "Earl in Waitress and Crown in Porgy and Bess."



(note the OP's caveat about villains)"

Um, the op stated "I don’t mean for the villain at curtain call"which was not what I was sharing. Shockingly, I know what I'm doing, thanks so much.

 

Oh honey, if anyone knows what it's like being booed, it's you -- so we'll all take you at your word for it!

[carnzee]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 7:57pm

Dollypop said: "There was a mezzo who was making her Met debut in IL TROVATORE a few years ago who not only got booed on opening night but had bouquets of broccoli and spinach tossed at her in place of the usual flowers. She withdrew from the production and (to the best of my knowledge) hasn't performed in the States since.



She really was bad, though."

I'm skeptical of this story simply because it's hard to believe someone would bring broccoli and spinach to the opera. Unless they knew they would hate her, in which case why go? Of course someone might just be mean enough to do so. 

This past March at the Met, a soprano in Ariadne auf Naxos had to endure someone yelling that she had "no technique" after her eleven minute aria. Very shocking and unusual for opera in the US. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 8:01pm

Sutton Ross said: "JBroadway said: "Sutton Ross said: "Earl in Waitress and Crown in Porgy and Bess."



(note the OP's caveat about villains)"

Um, the op stated "I don’t mean for the villain at curtain call"which was not what I was sharing. Shockingly, I know what I'm doing, thanks so much.

"

Sorry if I'm misunderstanding, Sutton, but actually I'm still not clear on what you're saying. Can you clarify? What were you sharing, if not the "the villain at curtain call"? Did you mean the booing was during the show, not at curtain call?

When I saw Porgy and Bess and Waitress, both of those actors received boos at the curtain call because they were villains, so when you mentioned those characters I assumed that's what you were referring to (which was not what the OP was asking for). Sorry if I assumed incorrectly. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 8:10pm

carnzee said: "Dollypop said: "There was a mezzo who was making her Met debut in IL TROVATORE a few years ago who not only got booed on opening night but had bouquets of broccoli and spinach tossed at her in place of the usual flowers. She withdrew from the production and (to the best of my knowledge) hasn't performed in the States since.



She really was bad, though."

I'm skeptical of this story simply because it's hard to believe someone would bring broccoli and spinach to the opera. Unless they knew they would hate her, in which case why go? Of course someone might just be mean enough to do so.

This past March at the Met, a soprano in Ariadne auf Naxos had to endure someone yelling that she had "no technique" after her eleven minute aria. Very shocking and unusual for opera in the US."

 

This took place before 9/11 when we could bring food items into the Met. I had a balcony box and we regularly brought wine and cheese to enjoy during those lengthy intermissions. The staff never objected.

There was also a green grocer across the street from the Met  (I'm sure it's gone now) and because of those lengthy intermissions one could dash across the street and buy flowers to toss at the likes of Kiri Te Kanawa and Kathleen Battle at final bows. There was never any difficulty bringing them into the house. I did it often.

Similarly, one could make a run out and bring choice vegetables if they chose to.

 

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 10:50pm

I saw this happen at Carnegie Hall once.  I saw the famous female impersonator Craig Russell perform there twice.  The second time he was high on drugs I think.  There was rumbling in the audience went he drifted from the voice he was doing, he was leaning against a piano with a vase of roses sitting on one of those long narrow cloth pieces.  He made the cloth move, the vase tipped over and the water on the floor made him slide under the piano.  The audience was laughing and booing.  He stood up (with some trouble) and started giving the audience the finger and screaming "f" you New York, I don't need you!  People threw programs and things at him.  There was a rush to box office for refunds, and it was even on the news that night!  I was shocked and just got the hell outta there.  I'll never forget that night!       http://mistressmaddie.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-great-craig-russell.html

Updated On: 7/18/22 at 10:50 PM

[David10086]

Posted: 7/19/22 at 11:55am

This doesn't count as "boooing" but this is one of the strangest experiences I sat through in a theater...

When I was a paid subscriber to the Broadway musicals playing my city in the 1990s, one of the musicals had canceled my city just a week or two before it was supposed to start (can't recall the musical or the reason why, but everyone was disappointed). I believe it was during the 1994-95 touring season.

Anyhow, the show which replaced it was a revue called "The Music of Kander and Ebb" , consisting of three men and three women (if I remember correctly). All dressed in red and blue - red gowns for the women, blue tuxes for the men. And they just stood there (or sat on stools) the whole night and sang - solos, duets, trios, etc.  Nor orchestra to back them up - just a solo piano player on stage.  It was horrible.

 

From the third row where my friend and I sat, you can see their attire didn't fit them well - some of the females were way too big to be squeezed into these dresses, while some were too thin. Same with the tuxes.  And for most of the songs, they sang off-key and some couldn't remember the lyrics, so it was obvious they ad-libbed. There was absolutely no reaction at all from the audience after Act 1 - though about 2 / 3 of the audience left at intermission. The rest of us stayed for more torture. The performers were acting as though they really enjoyed themselves on stage - laughing with each other and making 'jokes' with one another and to the lifeless audience. 

 

When the show was finished, the audience just sat there - kind of stunned of what we witnessed. There was a small smattering of light applause, and that was it - most of us sat still staring at the performers. You can tell that they were perplexed, too - a fairly empty house and no applause at the end. Just us staring at them, trying to figure out what we just saw, and then gawking back at us wondering if we were all comatose.  Some of them did a slight bow and they walked off the stage. In the meantime, the audience filed out in silence - as though we were leaving a funeral. 

 

Let's just say the local theater critic's review for this show was 'less than kind'. 

[shocktheatre]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 5:26pm

I've never experienced booing on Broadway and I am happy to say that.

Have I felt like doing it?

Yes.

Two shows:

LATE NITE COMIC

INTO THE LIGHT

 

 

Updated On: 7/25/22 at 05:26 PM

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 6:48pm

I mean…

 

‘Diana’ Broadway audience member yells ‘F—k off!’ at Prince Charles actor

Updated On: 7/25/22 at 06:48 PM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 7:19pm

Zeppie2022 said: "The way things are on Broadway for the last bunch of years, not giving a show a "standing ovation" when it is done is probably the equivalent of "booing". I have never heard "booing" at a Broadway show."

If I don’t like something, I don’t stand. If I love something, I’m on my feet as soon as the curtain starts to come up. Otherwise, I’ll usually stand at the end of the curtain call for a particularly great performer or for the full company. 

[DearTheodosia]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 8:15pm

David10086 said: "This doesn't count as "boooing" but this is one of the strangest experiences I sat through in a theater...

When I was a paid subscriber to the Broadway musicals playing my city in the 1990s, one of the musicals had canceled my city just a week or two before it was supposed to start (can't recall the musical or the reason why, but everyone was disappointed). I believe it was during the 1994-95 touring season.

Anyhow, the show which replaced it was a revue called "The Music of Kander and Ebb" , consisting of three men and three women (if I remember correctly). All dressed in red and blue - red gowns for the women, blue tuxes for the men. And they just stood there (or sat on stools) the whole night and sang - solos, duets, trios, etc. Nor orchestra to back them up - just a solo piano player on stage. It was horrible.



From the third row where my friend and I sat, you can see their attire didn't fit them well - some of the females were way too big to be squeezed into these dresses, while some were too thin. Same with the tuxes. And for most of the songs, they sang off-key and some couldn't remember the lyrics, so it was obvious they ad-libbed. There was absolutely no reaction at all from the audience after Act 1 - though about 2 / 3 of the audience left at intermission. The rest of us stayed for more torture. The performers were acting as though they really enjoyed themselves on stage - laughing with each other and making 'jokes' with one another and to the lifeless audience.



When the show was finished, the audience just sat there - kind of stunned of what we witnessed. There was a small smattering of light applause, and that was it - most of us sat still staring at the performers. You can tell that they were perplexed, too - a fairly empty house and no applause at the end. Just us staring at them, trying to figure out what we just saw, and then gawking back at us wondering if we were all comatose. Some of them did a slight bow and they walked off the stage. In the meantime, the audience filed out in silence - as though we were leaving a funeral.



Let's just say the local theater critic's review for this show was 'less than kind'."

 

As an orchestral performer who has accompanied many similar types of tribute performances made up of vocalists, I must say what a sad story this is, and it's surprising it got 9 "likes." Even if the audience didn't enjoy the performance, polite applause is appropriate and civilized when someone has performed for you, even if you didn't enjoy it. And the description of how the clothes fit is just cruel.

 

[John Adams]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 7:19am

Dollypop said: "There was also a green grocer across the street from the Met (I'm sure it's gone now) and because of those lengthy intermissions one could dash across the street and buy flowers to toss at the likes of Kiri Te Kanawa and Kathleen Battle at final bows. There was never any difficulty bringing them into the house. I did it often.

Similarly, one could make a run out and bring choice vegetables if they chose to."

I've never heard booing at a Broadway show, but I don't get to see a large number of shows on Broadway. I would think a performance would have to be absolutely  horrendous to provoke an audience, or singular person to boo.

I'm very happy to see the term "green grocer" (or greengrocer) is still in use, though!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 7:51am

DearTheodosia said: "David10086 said: "From the third row where my friend and I sat, you can see their attire didn't fit them well - some of the females were way too big to be squeezed into these dresses, while some were too thin. Same with the tuxes. 

When the show was finished, the audience just sat there - kind of stunned of what we witnessed. There was a small smattering of light applause, and that was it - most of us sat still staring at the performers. You can tell that they were perplexed, too - a fairly empty house and no applause at the end. Just us staring at them, trying to figure out what we just saw, and then gawking back at us wondering if we were all comatose. Some of them did a slight bow and they walked off the stage. In the meantime, the audience filed out in silence - as though we were leaving a funeral."



As an orchestral performer who has accompanied many similar types of tribute performances made up of vocalists, I must say what a sad story this is, and it's surprising it got 9 "likes." Even if the audience didn't enjoy the performance, polite applause is appropriate and civilized when someone has performed for you, even if you didn't enjoy it. And the description of how the clothes fit is just cruel.
"

No names were mentioned for cruelty to happen, and I believe the poster was simply mentioning how unprofessional and cheap the performance was.  You could be be a size 8 and still be "too big" to squeeze into a size 2 dress.

And while I largely agree with your applause sentiment...doesn't sound like the performers took things seriously enough. 

 

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 9:01pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTaAzFl_GYk (found it and added)  There's also a full two hour better version of the musical on Youtube.

I just wanted to share this, it was so interesting.

 

I don't have the link handy, but last night I watched a video on Youtube about the Broadway production of the musical "Carrie" based on the Stephen King novel.  It's really interesting with background story, all about King writing the book, then how the team came together to do a show. There's lots of stage footage in England, in rehearsals, and finally on Broadway.  And of course LOTS of boo's.

I wish they showed the off Broadway reworked version that got great reviews.

The musical had two great stars as the mother, the first one quit after she almost got decapitated lol.

Updated On: 7/26/22 at 09:01 PM

[pmensky]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 9:46pm

One of my favorite interviews with Betty Buckley HERE features one of her stories at 1:12:15 about her experience working on “Carrie” and the hilarious “theatrical riot” that occurred at the end of first preview. It’s one of the funniest theatre stories I’ve ever heard and worth a watch.