The Shakespeare Theatre - In the Nation's Capital
Login
Join Our Mailing List
For Subscribers Only
Search Our Site
donate now
 
 

Theatre Etiquette


Please silence cellular phones, watch alarms, beepers and pagers before entering the theatre or leave them with house management.

What to Wear to the Theatre

We have no official "dress code" for attending plays at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Our patrons usually dress in business casual attire for non-Opening Night Performances and in formal business attire for Opening Nights. However, we'd rather have a patron come in jeans and a sweatshirt than not come at all out of concern for how they are dressed.

On occasion the theatre can be slightly chilly due to a particular set design's impact on the air flow. Lap blankets are available at the coat check if you get chilly.

Golden Rules of Theatre Etiquette

(This article originally appeared in Stagebill. Reprinted with permission.)

  1. Go easy with the atomizer: many people are highly allergic to perfume and cologne.
  2. If you bring a child, make sure etiquette is part of the experience. Children love learning new things.
  3. Unwrap all candies and cough drops before the curtain goes up or the concert begins.
  4. Make sure cell phones, beepers and watch alarms are OFF. And don't jangle the bangles.
  5. The overture is part of the performance. Please cease talking at this point.
  6. Note to love birds: When you lean your heads together, you block the view of the person behind you. Leaning forward also blocks the view.
  7. THOU SHALT NOT TALK, or hum, or sing along or beat time with a body part.
  8. Force yourself to wait for a pause or intermission before rifling through a purse, backpack or shopping bag.
  9. Yes, the parking lot gets busy and public transportation is tricky, but leaving while the show is in progress is discourteous.
  10. The old standby: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.