Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
#1Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 10:05pmThis Sunday I am going to the opening night of Talk Radio and I am basically wondering what to expect. Has anyone been to an opening night? How should I dress? Can I expect to meet any of them at the stage door? Any insight would be helpful...
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WalkOn
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/06
#2re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 10:11pm
Dress to the nines! And have a great time.
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart; and you'll never walk alone.
Updated On: 3/7/07 at 10:11 PM
#2re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 10:56pmNot a Broadway opening night, but I went to the opening night of the LEGALLY BLONDE tryout. This is one time when I say DEFINITELY dress up. Also don’t gawk at the Broadway stars and other famous people you’ll see there. Also remember that night is about the cast of TALK RADIO, not anyone else. Sutton Foster was a few feet away from me at one point, and although I would have loved to talk to her, she was not in LEGALLY BLONDE, so that night wasn’t about her or disturbing her. Updated On: 3/7/07 at 10:56 PM
#3re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 10:58pm
Yeah, if people dressed up that much for the Blonde opening in California (and lordy, they did!), I'd say go all out for a Broadway opening!
(HumATume, I love your sig!)
~JJJ
Dear Ken,
I'm in pieces. Why the cold shoulder?
Love,
Barbie
#4re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:01pmOpening Night is definitely dress up time. And it is NOT a night to do the stage door, unless you've been invited backstage and your name is on the list - there will probably be barricades up anyway.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
#5re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:01pm
I've been to dozens of Broadway openings and I have never worn more than a suit.
Depending on the show, you can dress up, or you can dress down. For TABOO, I sure as hell didn't wear a suit.
For NEVER GONNA DANCE, I did.
Wear whatever you want. People wear everything from gowns to jeans.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#6re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:02pmTotally dress up and have a good time. Personally I would not attack celebrities but I do not see any harm in saying hello to them. It think it would look more awakward if you "pretended" to ignore them.
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http://ericmathew.blogspot.com/
#7re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:09pm
...think it would look more awakward if you "pretended" to ignore them.
That's why you have to perfect your poker face, or just walk away if you feel you're going to stare.
And JJJ that was the best BLONDE review evah!
teka21
Leading Actor Joined: 12/19/06
#8re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:12pm
I've attended quite a number of B'way opening nights and after parties. If you are not a celebrity who will be the focus of camera attention, it is not necessary to get dressed up like it's prom night in a gown or tux. Dress as if you're going out for special dinner in an upscale restaurant with jacket required.
BTW, I've also seen plenty of "show people" come in jeans...
#9re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:16pm
I second everything that TEKA said.
It's tacky to come dressed in a prom dress or tux if you have nothing to do with the show. I think.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#10re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:22pmI agree--If you dress up too much you'll probably attract attention...and not in a good way.
#11re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/8/07 at 12:17amThanks guys for the insight. I definitely am not planning on wearing anything too fancy, I have a nice simple black dress that I figured would be good. The only reason I asked about stagedoor is because I wanted to give flowers to Eric Bogosian, but I guess it would be more approriate to just send them to the theater and he can get them that way. Thanks again everyone!!
Sponsor me as I walk the Philadelphia AIDS Walk - Sunday, October 16, 2011. Many of our friends, family and neighbors are in desperate need of health care services and other life-saving programs, but with cutbacks in government dollars , these programs are often under-funded. Now, more than ever, your donations are needed to support organizations providing HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention education, counseling and testing and care services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
http://www.aidswalkphilly.org/users/index.php/profile/detail/186643
#12re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/8/07 at 12:18amIf you just want to give flowers, leave them with the stage door manager before the show with a note.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
stonewall2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/12/04
#13re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/8/07 at 9:03amDress it up and show it off!
"I'm mad, you're mad. we're all mad"...
The Cheshire Cat
Dover
Leading Actor Joined: 4/29/06
#14re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/9/07 at 1:53pmUsually the invitation will say something about what kind of dress is expected. A lot of times it will say something totally vague like "dress smart" when they don't want to narrow it down to black tie, or jacket and tie, etc. Basically if you look good, it doesn't matter what pieces make up your outfit. And of course the people in the show and associated with the show will usually wear the more outrageous outfits.
Bobo2
Understudy Joined: 1/1/07
#15re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:29pmI've gone to a couple of opening night shows and have worn a tie. I thought the best part was watching the people also there to see the show and to see if I knew any of them.
I'm such a bobo.
#16re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:50pm
I too am going to the opening night of Talk Radio (I love Stephanie March). However, I'm leaving Ithaca NY on a bus around 12:45pm and am arriving in the city around 6ish and I was toying with what I should and shouldn't wear and what would be most comfortable for a 5 hour long ride.
I am excited!
#17re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/12/07 at 4:34pmJust wanted to say thanks for all the input about what to do/wear/say/etc. on an opening night. I had a blast, although I was a little starstruck at just the sight of the beautiful Naomi Watts.
Sponsor me as I walk the Philadelphia AIDS Walk - Sunday, October 16, 2011. Many of our friends, family and neighbors are in desperate need of health care services and other life-saving programs, but with cutbacks in government dollars , these programs are often under-funded. Now, more than ever, your donations are needed to support organizations providing HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention education, counseling and testing and care services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
http://www.aidswalkphilly.org/users/index.php/profile/detail/186643
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/12/07 at 4:42pm
Opening nights are not what they once were. So you needn't take any special effort to dress up. Just behave yourself in the theatre...no drinking, no eating, no talking during the performance 
#19re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/12/07 at 4:44pm
If only every night of theatre could be like opening night! 
It may not be as glamoruos as it used to, but it sure is fun! The best audiences!
#20re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/12/07 at 6:16pmI got a great ticket for "Pacific Overtures" for opening night just a week before it opened. Yes, I dressed up. Yes it was the original production. I shared an arm rest with Lisa Kirk. It was my favorite opening night because of the audience reaction at final curtain. The audience just sat there not knowing whether to applaud or not. So at first they didn't. Then slowly a trickle turned into a wave and the actors began bowing. It almost had shades of "Springtime For Hitler"'s first audience shots in the film versions of "The Producers".
#21re: Questions about attending an opening night of a B'way show
Posted: 3/12/07 at 6:23pmI always at least put a casual blazer on for opening nights. The last one I went to was VOYAGE, and you had everything from people in suits and evening gowns to jeans and polos. I wore a corduroy blazer, slacks and a buttoned shirt. I felt that I was dressed appropriately.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
