6 min read
Your first time at the theater
Tickets, what to wear, when to arrive, how long it runs, and what happens at intermission. Nothing to be nervous about.
Going to a play or a musical is one of the friendliest nights out there is. You buy a ticket, you find your seat, the lights go down, and people who have rehearsed for weeks tell you a story from a few yards away. Almost everything people worry about beforehand turns out not to matter. Here is what actually happens.
Picking a show
If you are not sure where to start, a musical you already know a song or two from is the easiest first night: the story is clear, the music carries you, and the energy in the room does the rest. A comedy is the easiest first play. Every production on this site says whether it is a musical or a play, roughly how long it runs when we know, and who it suits. The plays and musicals guide explains the different kinds.
Tickets
Buy from the theater's own box office or website; every production page here links straight to it. Resale sites often charge far more for the same seat. Prices range from free or ten dollars at a community theater to a few hundred for a hit on Broadway, and there are good ways to pay less almost everywhere: see how to get cheap tickets. The cheapest seats are often fine. From the mezzanine or balcony you see the whole stage picture, which is where a lot of the magic is.
What to wear
Whatever you would wear to a nice restaurant, or less. Some people dress up for opening night because they enjoy it; plenty of people wear jeans to a Tuesday performance. Nobody is checking. One practical note: theaters are often cool once the air conditioning is running, so bring a layer.
When to arrive
Aim for twenty to thirty minutes early. Doors usually open half an hour before the curtain. That gives you time to pick up tickets, find the restroom, and read the program before the lights go down. Some theaters offer a free talk before the show or a talkback after it; if you are new, both are a treat. If you are late, an usher will hold you at the door and seat you at a suitable moment, sometimes not until intermission. That is to protect the actors and the people already watching, not to punish you.
How long it runs
Most full-length plays and musicals run between two and two and a half hours including one intermission of about fifteen to twenty minutes. Some shorter plays run ninety minutes straight through with no break, which the listing or box office will mention. Children's shows are often an hour or less. Community and youth productions sometimes run a little longer on opening weekend while everything settles in.
The beginning
A few minutes before the start, you will hear an announcement about phones and emergency exits, and sometimes a note that an understudy is on for a role tonight. Then the house lights dim. In a musical, the band may play an overture. In a play, the stage lights simply come up and the story begins. Settle in; the first few minutes are when your ears adjust to the room and the way the actors speak.
When to clap
Clapping at the theater is easy. In a musical, applaud after songs whenever you feel like it; the show is built for it. Applause when a well-known performer first walks on is common too. In a play, the audience usually saves applause for the ends of acts and the curtain call, though a big laugh or a stunning scene can earn a round. At the end, clap through the whole curtain call. Standing is up to you. The etiquette guide has the rest.
During the show
Phones off, not just silent; a glowing screen in a dark theater is distracting for everyone around you and can be seen from the stage. No photos or video during the performance; most theaters do not allow it, and the actors can see you. Unwrap candy before the lights go down. Laugh when it is funny, gasp when it is shocking, cry if it gets you. The actors feed on it. That is the part a screen can never give you.
Intermission
Fifteen to twenty minutes. Head to the restroom first; lines move quickly if you go straight away. Get a drink or a snack at the bar or concession stand; many theaters now let you bring a drink back to your seat in a lidded cup. A chime or flashing lobby lights tell you when it is time to return.
Afterwards
Some theaters hold a talkback after certain performances, where the cast or director answers questions; stay if you can. At some shows the actors come out of the stage door to say hello and sign programs. On the way home, open the production page on this site and leave an impression: a rating and two honest sentences help the next person decide. And if you loved it, follow the theater, and the near me page will show you what they are doing next.
Written by PlayhouseFinder. Dotted words open a short definition; the full glossary is here.