L.A. theater etiquette ... for the uninitiated

  

Anyone who's attended theater in Los Angeles knows what a strange and disorienting experience it can be. Not unlike New York and London, L.A. contains hundreds of professional stages of all sizes, from glamorous palaces to dumpy little buildings in the middle of nowhere.

The true idiosyncrasies, however, are to be found in audience behavior, which can be especially alienating.

Every city has its own theater etiquette but in the ultra-relaxed atmosphere of Southern California, the unspoken rules are particularly difficult to decipher, thanks in part to the sprawling, decentralized nature of the theatergoing population.

What is considered rude and what is acceptable? (The answers may surprise you.) Also, what do you do when you see a celebrity sitting next to you? Is it alright to acknowledge him or her?

Carrie Dunn at the Guardian in London recently posted a West End etiquette guide, and we at Culture Monster were inspired to formulate a similar list adapted for the L.A. theater scene.

Keep reading for the rundown ...

Late arrivals: Get used to it, especially at big theaters like the Ahmanson, the Kodak and the Pantages. It's not uncommon to see people streaming in 20 or 30 minutes into a show. The reason is simple: traffic. Plus the bottlenecks to the parking garages. And there are always bottlenecks.

Speaking of traffic: Plan accordingly. And then add an extra 15 minutes. And 15 more to find parking.

Talking during the show: In New York, you can expect dirty looks and even verbal reprimands if you so much as open your mouth during a performance. In L.A., it's less of a sin. We've sat through performances where audiences have chattered and no one complained. Trust us, you learn very quickly to filter.

Texting during the show: Not acceptable in New York, but in L.A. the rules are more ambiguous. Technically, you're supposed to turn off all mobile devices, but in our experience, many people don't. Did we mention how annoying the light of a BlackBerry is in a dark theater?

Walkouts: Voting with your feet is universal and in L.A., we exercise our right with a vengeance. And it's not just because we don't like what's on stage. People start streaming out well before curtain call as a way to avoid the inevitable traffic jam in the parking garage.

Standing ovations: Like grade inflation, they are everywhere, even for the worst of shows. But it seems to us that most of the time people are just jumping to their feet so they can leave quickly to get to the parking lot.

Celebrity sightings: Theater in L.A. is a good place to see celebrities, pretending they don't want to be seen but going out of their way to be seen. Should you approach them? In our experience, we've found them to be more receptive to fans than in New York. So go ahead, tell them that you love their work.

"Please unwrap your candy now": It stopped being funny years ago, but somehow it keeps getting a laugh here. Of course, you can still expect people to unwrap their lozenges during the show.

The national anthem: It pays to know the words. On opening night of each season at venues like the Hollywood Bowl and the Music Center, the audience rises to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner." As one friend elegantly put it: "They do that here."

-- David Ng

Illustration by Eric Hanson.

Photo: Ahmanson Theatre in downtown L.A. Credit: Center Theatre Group

Comments

[Michael Freed]

The Star Spangled Banner is played much more often at the Hollywood Bowl. At least at every Philharmonic concert, and I think at Hollywood Bowl Orchestra concerts, too.

[Mo Chung]

People seriously need to learn to not text in a dark theater, ANY kind of theater. When they turn on that little screen, it lights up everything behind them. It is seriously annoying.

[Daisy McGarr]

My teens lose their phones instantly if I catch them texting in a theater. Even a silent phone is annoying!

[hank]

Re Speaking of Traffic: Try taking the subway sometime! The Pantages, Chandler, Ahmanson, Disney Hall & Hollywood Bowl shuttle stop are all within two blocks of a subway station. $5 round-trip. My partner & I park & ride and always arrive early.

The only bottleneck we see is of what's being poured into a cocktail glass either before or after the show! Next to the Pantages, The Frolic Room with it's famous Hirshfeld mural and the outdoor cafe at the Ahmanson et al are great places for a cocktail. Invariably we strike up a conversation with other theatre-goers. Plus, the subway ride back to our car gives time for any tipsiness to wear away for a safe ride home.

[Asal]

Merrian-Webster describes etiquette as : the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life. What you've listed above as theatre etiquette may be common practice and it should not be confused by the uninitiated as proper or good theatre behavior. To wit it is never proper to talk, text, or arrive late (you live in LA. you know there is traffic. plan for it). And leaving early is the height of poor behavior and insulting to all of the artists who have put their time and energy into the work.

[Douglas Clayton]

I think there is a big difference between noting unfortunately common bad behavior, and endorsing it as 'LA etiquette'. Labeling it as 'just the way things are in LA' will only serve to encourage all those annoying and rude behaviors, and to drive more people who appreciate cultural activities out of the city and to 'more cultured' places like New York.

How about an article encouraging theatre producers, staff and patrons to speak up and teach rude patrons what good behavior and etiquette are, so that the experience can be more enjoyable for everyone?

I'd love to see a theatre that values the experience for the responsible patrons so much that they simply allow no late seating, or regularly expel patrons who open candy, let cell phones ring or text during shows. The appreciation they'll get from patrons who are behaving properly will more than make up for the outrage they'll receive from badly behaved patrons.

A little bit of that, and those any uncertain and terrified new theatregoers will be able to rest easy and enjoy the experience without distraction or confusion.

[Ivett Gabriella]

I don't think any of these behaviors are actually accepted by LA theaters, I'm sure they occur from time to time, but it isn't ok to talk during a show, for example, at all. And I haven't seen too many people walking out early eather. But I did see standing ovations several times, and not only because people wanted to beat the traffic. I don't think this article paints the picture acurately.

[Ivett Gabriella]

At the theater I am performing at right now, there's no late entries. They lock the doors at the start of the show!

[Noellle]

Thank You Douglas Clayton.

This article seems to endorse rude behavior in the LA THEATRE scene.
I'm appalled that patrons don't have a clear understanding of what is
appropriate, as a lot of these things are common sense.
When is it EVER OKAY to casually walk into any event 30 mins late?
Or to text or chat?

Please new theatre patrons, DON'T ABIDE BY THESE SILLY RULES.

[F]

Who wrote this drivel? Someone who undoubtedly advocates what he/she practices at the theatre. Not discouraging bad etiquette is just stupid and bad for theatre. I pay good money to hear actors and music, not to hear mouth-breathers chattering away and slurping drinks, pretending to "git them some culture" by attending a play or musical. Audiences get shushed at high-school plays, why not in a paying audience of a professional stage? Why demean L.A. and savvy L.A. audiences by taking for granted and encouraging silly and rude behavior that's barely acceptable at restaurants?
Go ahead shush the nattering nabob next to you, behind you or in front of you. It's the theatre and even in L.A. the chances are quite slim you won't get shot for it. Otherwise, just ask for your money back(nicely and diplomatically;that helps your case everytimeand good manners will always out). It's worked for me.