The Great (White Way) Escape & What We Should Do To Keep It That Way

      Greetings, readers, and welcome to yet another Monday post from Mike! Folks, whenever I encounter bad times, or heck just want to celebrate some great times, it is frequently common to find me enjoying live theater. For many years, live theater has offered me an escape from life while enjoying a story told on stage, whether it be actual or fictional, comedic or dramatic. However, lately it has come to the forefront that perhaps some patrons do not view theater the way I do. Such recent behaviors have garnered reactions from performers and patrons alike. Here is three simple ways in which we can help make the theater return to its glorious form of escapism.

1) Follow the Law and Turn Off Your Cell Phone

      Let's start with the obvious. Yes, using your cell phone in the theater is illegal in New York City. Making calls, texting, browsing the Internet, and other activities you can now do on your cell phone may result in you getting fined and ejected from the theater with no refund. Cell phones disruptions have been, perhaps, the most common disruption in the theater. Now, believe it or not, both audience and performers have noticed this, often times tweeting (Part 1) it (Part 2), making a video on etiquette, or just taking the offending device. The bottom line is simple in regards to cell phones on Broadway. When at the theater, make like Elder McKinley from The Book of Mormon and turn it off.

2) Keep Conversations at a Minimum During the Show, If You Need to Speak At All

     I cannot emphasize this enough. It may be difficult to grasp what is going on on stage, but if you find that the show is too difficult to understand, reserve your points of clarification for an appropriate time to talk, whether it be at the intermission or after the show. That is not to say that you shouldn't avoid theater you fear you may not understand. I often times will attend a show that I do not know anything about. It's fun to explore the unknown. That being said, there are avenues where you can do some research on the show before seeing it, whether it's listening to the cast album, looking up the show on the show's official site, or watching a film adaptation before attending. Also, with Broadway being a haven for theater fans around the world, there are ways that Broadway shows become accessible to those for whom English is a second language. Popular shows such as Wicked, The Lion King, and The Phantom of the Opera offer devices called ShowTrans, which translate the show into several languages, giving the user an idea of what is going on on stage. There are innumerable ways to allow one to understand the show, without the running commentary that perhaps may be distracting others around you.

3) Keep Theater Live! That Means No Recording or Pictures

      Suppose the kids at home just couldn't make it to the show, or you know your friend Betty Ann would just love to see her favorite Broadway star perform. That great. Brimng the kids back to see the show and tell your friend Betty Ann how awesome her favorite star is and how she needs to go see him/hr. Do not take a picture or record the show. You are endangering performers, and also stealing. Yes, you heard that eighth commandment violation. Whether you may not know it, a performance contains properties, the property of the set designer, costume designer, even composer, book writer and director have intellectual property that is protected under the law. So, even if you snap that selfie with the stage in the background at show, you are stealing in that you have created this unlicensed replica of a thought someone had and made it to the stage. Also, it's incredibly disrespectful to the performer in that that performer is giving a performance for your eyes only, as you have something your friend may not have yet: a ticket. Instead, encourage others to go have the experience that you just ahd, while reserving that mometn you had with the people who were in the room while it happened.

      There is no better escape then the escape that is live theater. Audiences around the world shall contin ue to leave their troubles outside the theater, and insetad enjoy a show. being aware of your fellow theatergoer will help create a fun filled atmosphere that has no distractions from a truly remarkable performance. So, enjoy a show and feel no hassle from life. Care to learn more insights from the mind of Mike? Follow me on Twitter at @mfhallinan. Until the next time, this is Mike signing off, ghost light lighting on!