by Jessica santina
Crowd
Control RN&R’s theater critic gives a lesson in live-show etiquette
I
t happens at every damn show I attend: the opening of the wrapper. Maybe it’s a potato chip bag or a piece of candy, but I swear, every time I attend a live performance, some person nearby will decide that opening the wrapper reeeeaaaalllyyy slooooowlyyy will make it less bothersome to others. Trust me, it doesn’t. Everyone around you—including the actors—is thinking, “Oh, for the love of God, just OPEN the damn thing already and get on with it!” There was a time, long ago, when people frequently attended live theater. These people dressed up and left their homes (and telephones) behind, on purpose, to escape for a few hours and give their undivided attention to art. Things have changed. Those of us who participate in live theater on a regular basis, as artists or audience members, have unfortunately too often seen outlandish behavior on the parts of our fellow attendees.
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Not that all change is bad. Breaking down stuffy, old perceptions of live theater as an elite activity and adding casual approachability to the experience may be key to attracting future theatergoers. And, in its 24th year of making art accessible, inviting and, frequently, free, the month-long Artown festival next month may be responsible for influencing a new generation of artists and art lovers. As July approaches and we begin packing those picnic baskets, filling our calendars and buying tickets, a few of my favorite local theater pros and I want to share a few pearls of wisdom about how to behave during a live show.
Think before you bring it The rules for what you can bring to a show at Wingfield Park are vastly different from venues like the Pioneer Theater or Reno Little Theater.
If it’s outdoors, check the rules for your venue, which will likely include mentions of acceptable seating, food and drink. Artown offers an online resource to address the rules of its outdoor venues like the Wingfield Park Amphitheater: Artown.org/park-rules. If you’re attending an outdoor performance elsewhere, consult the venue’s website or call the box office to get the lowdown. “If there are rules about the size of chair you can have or whether you should sit in certain areas, follow those rules,” said Stacey Spain, a playwright, actor, director and theater instructor who heads up Truckee Meadows Community College’s theater department and performing arts troupe. “Everyone around you will have expectations that they will have the same ability to enjoy the performance as you are.” If you want to bring a high-back chair, feel like dancing or, god forbid, plan to wear a giant sunhat, please head to the back.
This isn’t your living room Christopher Daniels has seen it all in his years as a Reno actor, comedian and executive director at Goodluck Macbeth theater company—from someone trying to sell molly at the front door to drunken audience members and even one guy vaping up a cloud way in the back corner. “You want theater to be accessible for everyone and make people feel like it’s not an exclusive outing, but people shout things, take out their phones. … it’s crazy,” he said. “You are not in your living room. This is a live performance. People worked hard on it, and they can hear you. They are not here for you. Yes, we want your participation, your laughter and your clapping, when it’s appropriate. But be mindful of pulling focus from the performance, because what you’re communicating to performers and
