THEATER RULES
Time On Ticket Is When Show Begins

Caribbean-Americans love the theater especially comedy plays. Many who reside in the tri-state of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut go to plays on Broadway and abide by the rules of the theater, such as arriving on time and sitting in the assigned seats.

When attending Caribbean-American theatrical events many fail to abide by theater rules and etiquette. House rules of theater houses are the same whether one is attending a play on Broadway, off Broadway, in a high school or in the theater districts of Philadelphia, San Francisco or Chicago.

Some people are not aware of the criteria of theater houses and the terminologies used. Here are some tips.

RESERVED SEATING: Each patron is given a specific seat. The seat, row and section are printed on the ticket. For example, if you have the following ticket: Mezzanine-Left, Row C, Ticket 21 and your friend has Mezzanine-Center, Row N, Ticket 7, you and your friend cannot sit together. Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts and all theater houses on Broadway have reserved seats.

GENERAL ADMISSION: Patrons can sit anywhere because seats are not assigned. If the performing arts center or theater has different sections and different price ranges, then you are required to sit in the section you purchased but can occupy any seat. Cramton Auditorium at Howard University and York College Performing Arts center are examples.

MAKING USE OF BOX OFFICE: Most theater and performing art centers have a box office where patrons can purchase tickets months before the performance. The box office also provides an important service at show time. Patrons can leave prepaid tickets in an envelope at the box office for someone. At most Caribbean events in New York, you find frustrated persons, sometimes, in tears, because the show started a long time ago and they are standing outside waiting to give friends or family tickets. You can leave tickets in an envelope at the box office for the person as long as you inform the person the tickets will be in their name at the box office.

CURTAIN TIME OR SHOWTIME: The time printed on the ticket is when the performance begins. For example, if the show begins at 8pm, you must be in your seat before 8pm. You must arrive at the venue at least 20 to 30 minutes before. You cannot arrive 8pm for a performance that begins at 8pm

ARRIVING TOO LATE MAY COST YOU YOUR SEAT: Avoid being late by planning to arrive 30 minutes early. If you arrive late, most theater houses ask you to wait quietly at the back of the theater until there is an appropriate break in the performance during which to find your seat. Management reserves the right to place you in any unsold seat if you arrive very late. By arriving late, you break the actors’ attention and you disturb other patrons.

SEATING PLAN: Theater houses and performing arts centers have a seating plan. The seating plan is mainly good or effective for people who are buying tickets early, weeks before the show, when most reserved seats are still available. The seating plan gives you the opportunity to select seats but you cannot get the seats you request if the seats are already sold. Asking to see the seating plan on show day or a few days before to select seats is meaningless because most tickets already have been sold and you can only buy the seats that are available.

DO NOT USE CAMERAS OF ANY KIND DURING THE PERFORMANCE: Copyright laws prohibit photographing or recording a performance. The clicking sound is annoying to your neighbors, and the flash can momentarily blind the actors. Management has the right to throw you out or take your equipment or what you have recorded.

TURN OFF CELL PHONES, PAGERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES: If you forget to turn off your cell phone and it rings during the performance, immediately turn it off—do not answer the call. By answering the phone, you disturb patrons and actors. You can always check for messages during intermission.

DO NOT PHONE FAMILY AND FRIENDS: As the play progresses, some people phone friends to listen to the action or to give them a live commentary. That’s bad manners; by doing so, you are distracting other patrons.

DO NOT TALK, WHISPER, SING AND HUM DURING THE PERFORMANCE: Remember, you are watching a live performance, not a television program, so you will disturb patrons and actors.

NO CONVERSATION AND GOSSIPING: It is bad manners to maintain personal conversations during the play even though you have not seen your friend or family member in months; by doing so, you will disturb patrons and actors.

OK TO APPLAUD: You and your friends can enthusiastically applaud. While applause is usually given after each act in a play and after a song or dance in a musical, spontaneous applause is always appropriate if a scene, performer, or stage setting is exceptional. Applause is also given at the end of the play to show appreciation, with a standing ovation for an outstanding performance by particular actors or the entire cast.

REFRESHMENTS CONSUMED IN LOBBY NOT IN HOUSE. Refreshments purchased in the lobby must be consumed in the lobby. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the house, especially while the play is in progress.

REMAIN IN YOUR SEAT UNTIL THE END OF THE SHOW. Wait until the house lights are illuminated after the curtain call before preparing to leave. Leaving while a show is in progress is discourteous and distracting.

KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR: Not on the chair in front of you. CHILDREN: Determine if the play is appropriate for children. All theatrical shows produced or promoted by EVERYBODY’S Magazine are family oriented and suitable for children. That’s a reason why Oliver Samuels’ plays are very popular and tickets quickly sell out.

FANS & FAMILY NOT WELCOMED BACKSTAGE: This is not allowed for various reasons. It is a violation of union laws. The cast is preparing to go on stage and the stage manager and production manager need the cast’s undivided attention. After the performance ends, the stagehands need space to dismantle the set; fans backstage prevent them from working efficiently and safely. Theater houses charge producers overtime and double overtime if the facilities are used after the contracted time, so fans backstage also have financial consequences. Some fans, especially Oliver fans, try to go backstage before or after the play to greet the cast. There’s a small room, the “Green Room” or “Blue Room,” set up after the show for that purpose but only a few fans can be accommodated and they can only stay for a few minutes.

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