Etiquette for Broadway Theater-Goers

 

Etiquette
Image: nytix.com

Dr. Loretta Itri serves as the executive vice president of global health sciences and regulatory affairs at a major biopharmaceutical company in New Jersey. A theater aficionado, Dr. Loretta Itri enjoys seeing a diverse range of Broadway and off-Broadway shows.

Although some matters of theater etiquette are obvious, such as not talking during a show, audience members of shows on Broadway or elsewhere should observe a few lesser-known courtesies:

1. Avoid wearing too much perfume or cologne. The strong smell may be offensive to your neighbors. Others may even be allergic to your cologne.

2. Don’t snuggle with your significant other. This may place you in a position that obstructs the view of people behind you.

3. Give a standing ovation only if you think the show deserves it. Always applaud to show your appreciation of the hard work the actors and crew put into the show, but you don’t have to stand. Save a standing ovation for the shows that go above and beyond.

Broadway Show Lineup for Fall 2018

The Lifespan of a Fact
Image: lifespanofafact.com

An experienced senior executive in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Loretta Itri serves as executive vice president of global health sciences and regulatory affairs for The Medicines Company. In her free time, Dr. Loretta Itri enjoys attending Broadway and off-Broadway shows.

The following are a few Broadway shows opening in fall 2018:

The Lifespan of a Fact. On September 20, Studio 54 will begin previews of The Lifespan of a Fact, a story about Jim Fingal, a magazine fact checker who receives an assignment to check the work of a renowned author who, it turns out, invented most of the article. Directed by Leigh Silverman, the play will officially open on October 18.

The Waverly Gallery. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, The Waverly Gallery will officially open at the John Golden Theatre on October 25. The work tells the story of an elderly Greenwich Village art dealer who is forced to give up her art gallery. As she deals with the trials of aging, she learns to trust her family and rely on their love and faithfulness. The first preview will take place on September 25.

The Ferryman. On October 2, the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre will present its first preview of The Ferryman, which gives the audience a picture of life in Northern Ireland in 1981. The play takes place on the farmhouse of the Carneys, who receive an unexpected visitor during their annual harvest celebration. Directed by Sam Mendes, The Ferryman will open on October 21.

Broadway vs. Off-Broadway

Broadway
Image: backstage.com

An executive vice president with The Medicines Company in Parsippany, New Jersey, Loretta Itri oversees global health science operations and regulatory affairs. When she isn’t working, Loretta Itri enjoys attending Broadway and Off-Broadway theater.

Although Broadway was home to many theaters when New York City officials originally christened the street, today only four theaters (the Winter Garden, the Marquis, the Roundabout, and the eponymous Broadway) are physically located on Broadway. The term “Broadway theater,” by contrast, can apply to any large theater in midtown Manhattan.

The distinction between Broadway and Off-Broadway is nuanced. Among other criteria, the terms can be defined partly based on the contracts of theater workers. Individuals employed by larger (Broadway) theaters generally get paid more than those who work for smaller (Off-Broadway) theaters.

Generally speaking, a theater must have at least 500 seats to earn the “Broadway” distinction, while theaters with 99 to 499 seats typically have an “Off-Broadway” distinction. The theater industry denotes venues with less than 99 seats as “Off-Off-Broadway.”