1. Don’t whistle or yell.
It may startle actors when you clap as we are fragile creatures. Whistling and yelling is best saved for sporting events, where sound does not bounce off the walls or interfere with dialogue or song that could be taking place.
2. Applaud when you feel it is right.
If you liked someone’s acting or singing, show them in the form of clapping. Actors like this. We feed off of it. It’s why we do what we do.
3. Don’t open wrappers or eat in the theater.
This goes for most theaters, but the rule does not apply for dinner theaters. You know when you’re sitting in a movie and that one guy opens his Sour Punch Straws and it makes you infuriated? Imagine that but with the people in the play feeling the same way. Don’t be that guy.
4. Go see shows in the first place.
It’s like a movie, but live. Pretty cool. Plus, if you go to plays, you can claim to be cultured and artsy and wear scarves and whatever.
5. Don’t make posters (unless it’s high school improv).
It’s just kind of weird to stand onstage, look out into the audience and see “GO LEGACY THEATRE” painted in bright red across white posterboard. Never happened to me, but in case you have the idea, rethink it. We aren’t fighting anyone here.
6. Don’t wave at people onstage.
We won’t wave back, and as actors we get hungry and may accidentally bite your hand off. Usually that’s not the case, but it really isn’t worth the risk.
7. Bring flowers or candy for your favorite performer.
We like the attention. Really. Why else would we make fools of ourselves in front of large crowds of people?
