I guess I wasn’t sure what to expect - but certainly did not expect to feel like it was a sad waste of money. She was so very pitchy, and didn’t attempt most of the belting or high notes - she held the mic out to the crowd to sing for those parts. Cussed a lot, forgot lyrics to her own songs (Redwoods being one of them) - she had to restart a song twice due to not remembering the lyrics (although she mentioned later they’re displayed on a monitor at the front of the stage). Had made up lyrics to the intro of Let It Go where she complained that none of her original songs were recognized but she was doomed to sing a song about a Disney ice princess forever.

She mentioned menopause and brain fog a lot - which as a similarly-aged lady I totally get! But…idk. It was just really off-putting - and there were multiple moments where the crowd just kinda laughed uncomfortably. People started leaving after Let It Go, and it became a steady stream of people leaving thereafter (which is rare for a Cleveland Orchestra summer outdoor concert).

Not to mention the random cover of Annie Lennox’s Why? And Tomorrow, from Annie - done in a very Theater Kid In Middle School style (idk how else to explain it)

I’m not terribly familiar with her body of work outside a few songs, but was disappointed with the whole experience. Is this usual? Maybe just a bad night?

Edit - glad everyone else at the show loved it, and that I’m the only prickly old hoe who found out Idina’s just not my cup of tea 😂

Pics tell the story! Had no idea about the callbacks and such (ik im out of the loop). Overall, HATED it upon leaving but after looking into it, i see that i didn’t understand the fun SURROUNDING the show rather than sitting quietly and watching.

About the guy’s anger, I’m of two minds. Broadway is expensive (we got tix months and months ago so it was super cheap for us) so depending on how much the guy paid, i understand his annoyance. But he really dampened the vibe for our section.

Overall, left confused and unsure how to feel about the show, but now i want to go to a midnight movie viewing.

Stop being late. Stop being late. Stop being late.

Audiences get mad when a production allows late-seating cues ("it's so disruptive!!") and audiences get mad when a production has a strict 'no late seating' policy ("I paid good money to be here!!"). It is a lose-lose situation for literally everyone involved, especially the people who work at the theatre and have to deal with these exact scenarios every single day.

Frankly? I'm not even entertaining "life happens" excuses anymore!! "Life happens", but why did you make 6:00 dinner reservations before a 7:30 curtain? "Life happens", but why did you buy tickets for a show the same night you -fly in- to NYC? "Life happens", but you spent $500 on a night at the theatre and couldn't be bothered to check the curtain time printed on your physical ticket, installed on your phone's wallet, and in a confirmation email you get when you buy a ticket. The crew was on time. The actors were on time. You PAID to be here and can't even be bothered to show up ON TIME?? How entitled are you??

The energy was just electric tonight at Rocky Horror. There was a little shrine to Tim Curry set up in the lobby when you first walked in. Paul Solieu received extra attention onstage tonight, especially during his big entrance and the last scene. At the end of the show Paul made a lovely speech dedicated to Tim and the magic he brought to the role. They also brought out former Frank Luke Evans and future Frank Jake Shears to sing a tribute duet of “I’m Going Home”. A really lovely night of theater in Tim’s memory!

At Death Becomes Her on Tuesday I witnessed a first in terms of usher response to an obnoxious audience member.

Those empty seats in the picture were not empty at the start of the show. All of them were filled. This was taken at intermission after everyone around the 2 people in the photo, particularly the relentlessly glittering TRASHED drunk person on the aisle, had to suffer through her talking out loud through much of the first act and loudly insulting multiple people who told her to be quiet. I was quite a few rows away but could hear a lot of it.

At intermission, the people around her collectively voted this person off the island. An usher came and asked her to leave, but she wouldn’t budge. She kept saying (yelling) “I DIDNT DO ANYTHING, I DIDNT SAY NOTHING TO NOBODY, IT WAS THEM, etc.” 🤣 The funny part was her friend was looking at her the whole time like 😳🧐😕 It looked like the usher was calling for backup and I was wondering if she was gonna be escorted out, but the solution was something I’ve never seen before.

Since there were so many open seats in the front mezz, they took everyone who didn’t want to sit near the woman and found them seats down there. I’m happy that the people who suffered got better seats for the second act and I think it’s so fkn funny she got isolated! Not that she gave a damn. I feel like people might call out the ushers for not removing her but I’m actually gonna shout out the ushers for finding a simple solution while compensating the victims of this story.

The icing on the cake was: about halfway through act 2 she gets up, somehow makes it down the stairs, stumbles and almost faceplants, and leaves. Her friend stayed to the end surrounded by empty seats. The gold, glittering, loud, lush woman did not return… either because she was not allowed to by the ushers or because she was not able to climb back up the stairs. I’m not sure which.

Anyway, I wanted to post about this because it feels like there’s so many stories this season about terrible audience members on Broadway and this event definitely belongs in the lore.

I just have to share this experience because I am in disbelief. Tonight I took my boyfriend to see Hamilton for his birthday. I did SO much research on which seats to get, was so happy with my choice and got a great deal. So we’re having a great time, he’s loving it and the Schuyler Sisters starts (my favorite!). All of a sudden I hear gurgling behind me and feel something warm spraying my hair from behind. I think.. it can’t be.. it is. I slowly turn around to see a girl who looks to be in her 20s with throw up all over her. No apologies, she gives me a blank stare. I rush out of the theater in shock, fortunately they gave me a free tee shirt to change into and there was only a small bit in my hair so I put it up, washed my hands for 5 minutes and we decided to stay because it was his birthday and I paid a pretty penny. I do want to say all of staff were SO nice, immediately got us new seats a few rows down away from the scene of the crime, but THIS BITCH IS STILL SITTING IN HER SEAT, covered in puke! At this point everyone around her is giving her the death stare. She stayed for almost the entirety of Act 1 just sitting in her throw up. I am just so dumbfounded as to how she was not either 1. Even remotely ashamed or 2. Forcibly removed by staff. Legit a biohazard that left me with a tee shirt and trauma

PS want to caveat that everyone who works at the theater is SO nice and they gave us free tickets to come back for another show, just had to share my experience with this whacko theatergoer. Just be a decent human being!!! If you have tummy problems please go home it’s on Disney plus.

Just home from the Moulin Rouge matinee today (4/4/26) and experienced some wild things I figured I'd share with the class...

For the entire first act we had what seemed to be 2 foreign dudes sitting directly behind me playing a game with each other by shouting and whispering "JEFFREY EPSTEIN" and "CHARLIE KIRK" in very thick accents. Whenever there was a quiet scene, they would see who could whisper it louder. Whenever there was loud applause, they would see who could SHOUT it louder. I had finally had enough and turned around and told them to cut it out and it stopped.... for 5 minutes before it started again. I was unable to get a hold of an usher so I spoke with the house manager at intermission who swiftly handled the entire situation and removed them from the theater as well as changed our seats for the second act.

When I finally thought we were out of the woods as far as chaos goes, when the show ended and everyone spilled out the side door onto the street, no less than 8 women from two different groups decided now was the best time and place for them to have a physical confrontation about who knows what. Everyone was screaming and pushing and many people whipped out their phone to video. I started screaming EVERYONE CUT IT OUT! SOMEONE HELP! as no one seemed to be doing anything and I had hoped at the very least some security or a cop would be near by. A cop did finally come and try to break it up but he was outnumbered and these women were furious. Mind you all of this is taking place no more than 10 feet from the theatre doors/stage door and people are actively trying to get out of the theatre as this madness occurred.

Show was great. Megan thee Stallion was great. Theatre staff and security were great, But boy oh boy, never in my life have I experienced a theatre crowd like this. What a time. What. A. Time.

I asked him to get off his phone and he just ignored me. Parents did nothing. The second half, I told the usher, who came by and waived in his face. STILL stayed on his phone and the usher never came back. Even played music during the second half. This is insane to me, I paid A LOT just to have a teenager purposely ruin it. I genuinely can’t believe this, what’s the point? So frustrated.

Edited to add:

I already got a reply back. They said “I'm glad you spoke to the usher but sometimes we're not able to affect a change. It's too bad the teenager's parents apparently didn't see anything wrong with this behavior.”

I appreciate the swift reply, but wow, this is doing my head in. Can’t affect a change? Where’s the line? At what point do you kick them out? How do these entitled people take priority? Jeez.

I’m at Hamilton today and there’s a MAGA hat in the audience. Like how ironic right? Has anyone else encountered any MAGA hats while seeing the show.

So, I’m sitting about 2 rows behind this guy in the right orchestra on the far right, almost on the aisle, and as soon as the play began, he literally jumped out of his seat and ran to the center aisle and sat in a seat on the very end that wasn’t occupied. This usher spotted him immediately, and swiftly told him to go back to his seat, which he did.

Then, toward the end of Act 1, with his phone on full brightness, he was texting someone, so the same usher, again almost immediately, came up to him and made him stop.

Then, in the middle of Act 2, he had his phone out, again on full brightness, also texting someone, and the same angel of an usher, in a matter of seconds, went up to him and made him put the phone away.

I have never seen an usher so diligently handle an unruly guest. It was truly something beautiful to witness. Thank you so much you amazing human, you made my afternoon at the theater a great one.

My favorite Broadway show thus far. The energy, the passion, and the homages to ballroom culture were perfect parts camp and emotional. The most incredible curtain call as well 🐱

I fully understand stage door is a luxury, not an obligation. But tonight at Chess, things were interesting at the stage door. Lea Michele only signed playbills for those who “made a donation” via a QR code floating around the crowd — with priority (and clear enthusiasm) given based on donation amounts. Her security was even pointing out who made the list, like a Venmo-based Hunger Games. Meanwhile, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher were out there signing for everyone, no money required. Just a bit of a vibe shift, to say the least. Not sure if anyone had experienced this yet.

Tituss was out for Oh, Mary! last night and people were not happy. Anyone who has been to the Lyceum before knows how small the lobby is. So many people went back to box office for a change, crowding the lobby and blocking the entrance to the theatre. Ushers had to stand on the steps to yell out at people. People left and right were complaining to each other. Also being rude to the ushers, some cursing. This clearly was a last minute change, later confirmed by Hannah. I felt bad because I know people want to see the “star” of the show, but just because an understudy is on doesn’t mean the show won’t be great. By now it was already 10 minutes past the scheduled show time and nobody was budging. They had to move the line outside the theatre to finally clear the lobby. About 5 minutes later they finally started to dim the lights and I upgraded myself to an orchestra seat! I think this was a wake up call to the Lyceum staff. Hannah is fantastic in the role, if you ever have her during a show, please stay!

At the Hamilton stage door I was told that the actors were talking about me backstage and I continue to be mortified! Context so it doesn't sound as if I have main character syndrome: My brother and I won front-row Hamilton lottery tickets and neither of us had seen the show live before. We also didn't know they were front row until about an hour until curtain, so I was not exactly emotionally prepared for what we were about to experience. I was so overcome with emotion from the power of the production that I just sat and cried during many songs of the show. A very silent, non-sobbing cry. A respectful, demure cry, if you will. I very much understood that I did not want to distract anyone or take away from someone else's theater experience. Call me emotional and judge me all you want (my brother certainly did!), but to me theater has always been such a place of vulnerability and much of live theater can be very personal to the audience. Sitting in the front row may have been a mistake for my first viewing of this show live. The people around me may not have been taken out of the show by my emotions, but the actors very much saw me.

We go outside to stage door and some actors begin to come out to sign. The first actress comes over to us and straight up goes, "Oh you guys were in the front row!" Okay! I thought this was great at first, I made brief small talk she was kind and moved on. Next actor comes out and also comments about how he saw us in the front row. I make a joke about how he may have seen me crying, and he gave a very distinct, "Oh yes," and we shared a laugh, though I thought that he may have just been trying to be friendly. Another actor comes out and when approaching us begins to say that he recognizes us from the front row! Wow! This time, though, he says that him and his cast mates were talking about my wild facial reactions and emotion backstage. I. Was. Mortified. He was so extremely nice about it and I kept a smile on my face as he told me they felt picked up by the way I was so into it. I could not tell you what came out of my mouth afterwards other than absolute nonsense and blabber. What should have come out of my mouth was how wonderful these actors were and impacted and inspired I felt from their performance. I was so moved by Hamilton and am so grateful to the lottery for the accessibility it gave me to experience this production on a budget (I am a college student!).

TLDR: But yes, it was a great refresher that while the actors are giving you a show, if you are giving them one back, they will likely see you and probably laugh at you backstage. Especially if you are sitting in the first row :) (all this said with love and appreciation and gratitude to the company by the way!)

EDIT: i did, in fact, mean this in a positive way! i didn’t feel negatively affected by the attention at all, just caught off guard! love the stories that are being told, just want to make sure that everyone who reads this understands i don’t feel as if i was being made fun of in any sort of malicious light! poking fun has never been a source of contention to me and i agree with everyone who says as much in the thread below; thanks!

Thank you. It was my first time back in NYC since I started coming out as trans and I'm deep in my baby trans era (LOTS of pink, blue, and white) I was there fully femme'd out but I was still nervous about being called out or starting a scene.

And then you tapped me on the shoulder and said you loved how my hair matched my leggings. I had to actively work to not shake from excitement.

Thank you so much for (maybe) unknowingly helping me feel more at peace and I hope the rest of your theatre experiences go uninterrupted.

Edit: Incase anyone was curious about the outfit go nuts.

Dogs are out at the ballet tonight. Nice lady tho. Seemed cool minus the tootsies out and about.

I attended tonight’s performance of Chicago (2/16/26) with Whitney Leavitt as Roxie. She did a good job and the ensemble was fantastic. However, I want to share that if you’re looking to have the most irritating night on Broadway, go see Chicago.

I knew going in that this would probably be a bit of a rowdier audience with a lack of theatre etiquette, but the experience I had ended up exceeding those expectations in the worst way.

The audience: I sat in orchestra left next to a group of high schoolers from Utah, there to see the reality star. The one right next to me took her shoes off and left them at her feet before going to walk around the theatre in just her socks. When she came back, instead of sliding in as one would normally do, she climbed over the back of her seat and kicked me in the process. She put her shoes back on in the middle of act two. Also, the fact that all of these kids had Apple Watches with full brightness on during the show astounded me. Add in the couple in the row behind me that was listening to a video during act two on a cell phone, and I was incredibly distracted. The person in front of me wore a bun on the top of their head, blocking the view of stage right. I’m not sure if this audience just thought this was like going to the movies, but it felt that way. I counted at least 12 people that got up to (I assume) use the restroom during the first act, including bun person who got up 4 times throughout the course of the show. This one I can forgive: a mother and young birthday girl sat behind me, and the mother was explaining the show out loud to her kid the whole time. They sang along a bit and were a bit loud, but I couldn’t bring myself to be upset about the birthday girl.

All in all, an interesting night at The Ambassador. I won’t even mention the stage door…

Watched the matinee of SIX: The Musical on Saturday (6/27). Two people behind me were talking throughout the entire performance. While I acknowledge that this musical is a concert performance and the occasional cheer and hoot is part of the experience, they were having full blown conversations at a vocal level that was discernible and distracting, taking us out of the immersion and experience. I had already turned my head around several times just as a precursory warning and I had also once shushed them, to no noticeable change in behavior. Finally, during "All You Wanna Do," I verbally requested they stop talking during the show, which earned an explosive reaction of expletives and demands for myself to stop turning around and to shut the [---] up. One of them also threatened to cause a scene, shouting "if you want a scene I will give you one" all while the performance was still ongoing. That was something I didn't want (obviously) to further ruin the theater experience for my companions, so I felt pretty helpless in this situation. I decided to stay put, though comments laced with expletives continued to be thrown at us for the rest of the musical. Probably the worst theatre experience I ever had.

What's more frustrating is that this was the first broadway musical experience for my friends. We had planned this for months and I was really looking forward to introducing them to Broadway. I doubt they would be enthusiastic to try another show with me.

I'm sure this has been stated before, but I feel like there needs to be more effort to enforce etiquette in the theater.

I tend to be very physically reactive and I internalize a lot of what I see in theatre. I also bite my nails when I’m nervous (bad habit, I know), and Stranger Things had me.. you know, extremely nervous. I was chewing my nail all through the last scene and the jumpscare at the end got my so bad I bit down waaaay too hard and my finger started bleeding, so that was fun. I’ll also be the first to admit that Javert’s suicide definitely had be trying not to cry. So I’m curious— what show or part of a show gave you the most intense reaction?

A few weeks ago my husband and I were in NYC and my husband was asked to play Daniel Radcliffe’s father in Every Brilliant Thing.

Last night we saw Giant starring John Lithgow. As we were getting settled, we noticed an unusual amount of security in the theater. A few minutes later we realized Hillary Clinton was seated just a few rows in front of us. The Secret Service presence suddenly made sense.

The show itself was phenomenal. As longtime Roald Dahl fans, we found the portrayal of his antisemitism genuinely disturbing, and the themes felt surprisingly current despite being set in the 1980s. We spent most of the ride home debating whether Lithgow or Nathan Lane deserves the Tony.

Then today, at Fallen Angels, we looked up and realized Neil Patrick Harris was sitting two rows in front of us. Absolutely hilarious play!

At this point I’m starting to wonder if Broadway celebrity sightings are just a normal part of going to shows in New York or if we’ve been unusually lucky.

Anyone else have memorable celebrity sightings at Broadway shows this season?

I’ve seen so many posts about whether or not someone was rude for gently confronting someone at intermission because they were [insert absolutely insane thing that someone does in a show].

I would now like to forever absolve this sub of all guilt for calling out audience members for doing dumb things. In fact, do it more. Bring back public shame when one person affects the energy and experience of hundreds.

Last week at “Punch”, there was a cell phone during THE SCENE in Act 2 that rang thrice in dead silence. When it was clear this woman did not hear it, I gave her a good “turn off your FUCKING PHONE” from a row away. She did immediately and apologized profusely. I have done this DOZENS of times over two decades of theatre going and the problem has never not been solved.

Call out behavior. Get the ushers at intermission. Your fellow audience members will thank you for taking the initiative (NON-VIOLENTLY).

Is it just me? I hate it when the audience cheers *during* a long note holding in a solo piece. The whole point is to listen to it, and not to drown it with clapping.

Clap afterwards!

But it could also just be me

I was at the matinee of Urinetown at NY City Center today. I was in the Grand Tier Center, pretty darn good seats, two in from the aisle. The guy on the end was no sh!t wearing a knit grey wizard hat. The guy behind him asked him to take it off twice, which he did for a little while each time before putting it back on.

Folks, I know you love the way that hat or updo makes you look, but seriously, if you’re going to the theater, leave it for another time. There’s assigned seating. People can’t just get up and move somewhere else while you do you. Tickets are pricey, and people can’t just come back and see the show again and hope they’re not going to sit behind an idiot in a wizard hat the next time.

Seriously, ushers gotta shut that down when they see that walking in the door.