New York City is one of the best places for theater in the US. Even if you're a novice to New York's theater, it's never too late to catch a play or a musical, whether it's Broadway or off-Broadway. Here is some theater etiquette for the novices out there.

1. Broadway
Etiquette
By Ari Kellen

2. Dress well
• Avoid sweats, flip
flops, shorts and
sneakers!
• You don’t have to
dress too well, but
try to look ok

3. Arrive on
time
• Nobody likes
the person who
shows up late!
• Latecomers
disrupt the
show and
distract actors!
• Better yet,
arrive early

4. Use the
bathroom
before the
show starts
!
• Climbing over the
people sitting by
you in the middle of
a show is distracting!
• If you have to use
the bathroom, try
doing it during a
scene change to
minimize disruption

5. Don’t wear too
much scents
• If you can smell
it, so can
everybody else !
• Arrive to a show
clean and wear
fragrances light

6. Turn off
your ringer
• Ringing phones
ruin performances!
• Checking text
messages, email
or social media is
just as bad!
• Wait until
intermission if you
need to make a
call/answer a text

7. Don’t eat
during a
show Loudly munching
or unwrapping a
candy bar is just
as distracting as
talking or a cell
phone

8. Don’t
talk
If you absolutely have
to say something,
whisper between
scenes

9. Don’t take
photos
• Photo and video recordings
aren’t allowed during
performances!
• If you’re using one, an usher
will come and reprimand
you, maybe even kick you
out, which is both disruptive
and embarrassing

10. Avoid
PDAs
• If you’re on a date,
wait until after the
show!
• A snuggling couple
will distract everybody
behind them

11. Applaud
Even if you didn’t like
the show, it’s a sign of
respect