The Fascinating World of Theatre Superstitions
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week's email, we explore the stories behind many of the theatre’s most famous superstitions. Plus, we catch you up on the week's most important theatre news and stories.
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Tyne Daly exits ‘Doubt’; Amy Ryan will take over by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News | The revival of John Patrick Shanley’s play has rescheduled its opening night. Read...
Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit Join Broadway's ‘Sweeney Todd’ by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | The Tony winners are the Sondheim revival's new Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Rent...
‘My Son’s a Queer’ postpones Broadway run by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | The Rob Madge solo piece was slated to open in March at the Lyceum Theatre. Read...
2024 Jimmy Awards will feature students from 51 regional awards programs by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | The annual awards ceremony will take place in June at the Minskoff Theatre. Read...
Broadway Licensing Global Adds Junie B. Jones: Toothless Wonder, More to Catalogue by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | Three new titles are joining the group's Playscripts imprint, offering budget-friendly plays to educational and non-professional companies. Read...
Joan Lader Keeps Broadway in Tune by Alexis Soloski, The New York Times | “She saved my career,” Patti LuPone said of this indispensable vocal therapist and coach whose clients include Madonna and Billy Porter. Read...
What happened at the White House and National Endowment for the Arts first-ever summit on the arts by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | Tony Award nominees Renée Fleming and Anna Deavere Smith were among a slew of speakers who discussed the importance of arts to health and infrastructure. Read...
The Big Idea
The Fascinating World of Theatre Superstitions
Zach Dulli, The Scene
The world of theater is a realm where creativity, artistry, and superstition intermingle. Behind the glitz and glamour of the stage lies a rich tapestry of traditions and beliefs that have been passed down through generations of performers, directors, and stagehands. These theater superstitions add an air of mystery and intrigue to an already captivating world. Join us as we explore the meaning and origins behind ten intriguing theater superstitions.
"BREAK A LEG" - The phrase "Break a Leg" is a well-known theatrical superstition used to wish performers good luck. Interestingly, it is considered bad luck to wish someone good luck directly before a performance. The origin of this phrase is subject to debate, but one plausible theory is that it dates back to ancient Greece when audiences would stomp their feet instead of clapping to show appreciation. A successful performance would result in so much stomping that an actor might "break a leg." Additionally, some believe it could be a way to confuse or trick malevolent spirits who might be listening.
THE GHOST LIGHT - The Ghost Light is a single, bare light bulb left on the stage when the theater is empty. Its purpose is to ward off spirits or ghosts that might inhabit the theater. This superstition has roots in practicality as well, ensuring that anyone entering the darkened theater can avoid accidents and tripping over props or set pieces. The light also serves as a symbol of hope, guiding lost spirits away from the stage.
AVOIDING SAYING "MACBETH" IN A THEATRE - Calling the Shakespearean play "Macbeth" by its name inside a theater is considered extremely bad luck. Instead, it is referred to as "The Scottish Play." The superstition has several origin stories, with one suggesting that uttering the name invites evil spirits and disastrous mishaps upon the production. Another theory links the curse to historical accidents and unfortunate events that occurred during various performances of the play.
BAD DRESS REHEARSAL = GOOD PERFORMANCE - This superstition suggests that a less-than-stellar dress rehearsal is a positive sign for the actual performance. The underlying idea is that expending all the energy and perfection during the dress rehearsal leaves little for the real performance. Therefore, a flawed rehearsal implies a more energetic and successful opening night.
AVOIDING BLUE COSTUMES - Wearing the color blue on stage is believed to bring bad luck to actors. Historically, blue dye was expensive and rare, and dressing an actor in blue implied a level of importance to their character. If the character then faced misfortune or death, the superstition emerged that the color blue was cursed.
PEACOCK FEATHERS, MIRRORS, REAL MONEY, AND JEWELRY - Peacock feathers, mirrors, real money, and real jewelry are all considered unlucky on stage. Peacock feathers have been associated with the "evil eye" and are believed to bring disaster to a production. Mirrors, real money, and jewelry can reflect or attract negative energies, disrupting the harmony of the performance.
WHISTLING IN THE THEATER - Whistling in a theater is thought to bring bad luck due to its historical association with scene changes. In the past, stagehands communicated using whistles during scene shifts. Whistling at random times could lead to miscommunication and potential accidents on stage.
SLEEPING WITH A SCRIPT UNDER YOUR PILLOW - The superstition of sleeping with a script under one's pillow is believed to help actors memorize their lines better. Some also think it may invite good luck for a successful performance. This practice is likely rooted in the idea that dreams can reinforce memory.
FLOWERS AFTER A PERFORMANCE - Giving flowers to performers after a show is considered good luck and a gesture of appreciation. Presenting flowers before the performance is thought to bring bad luck, possibly originating from the association of flowers with funerals and death.
NEVER LIGHT A TRIO OF CANDLES - Theatrical superstition discourages lighting three candles on or offstage. This superstition likely stems from the fear of fire hazards or the idea that groups of three are often linked to bad luck in various cultural beliefs.
Theater superstitions are a fascinating blend of historical traditions, practicality, and the human desire to understand and control the unpredictable nature of live performances. Whether based on historical accidents, practical considerations, or supernatural beliefs, these superstitions continue to be passed down from one generation of theater practitioners to the next, adding an extra layer of mystique to the world of theater. While some may dismiss them as mere old wives' tales, these beliefs are an integral part of the theater's rich and enchanting heritage.
Tom Holland to star in Jamie Lloyd's ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Matthew Hemley, The Stage | Tom Holland will play Romeo in a new production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by the Jamie Lloyd Company. Read...
Go Inside Rehearsals for Tim Price's Nye at London's National, Starring Michael Sheen by Andrew Gans, Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | Charting the creation of Britain's National Health Service, the new work is directed by Rufus Norris. Read...
National Theatre’s War Horse to return to UK stages after a five-year absence by Lanre Bakare, The Guardian | Exclusive: Director says he is interested to see the response of new audiences at a time of growing instability. Read...
Kristin Chenoweth-led ‘Queen of Versailles’ musical will play Broadway-aimed run in Boston by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | F. Murray Abraham will be featured alongside Chenoweth, who also serves as producer. Read...
Editorial: Chicago, that toddlin’ town, now seems to be toddlin’ to bed early by The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune | Curtain times are moving up. Late-night carousing is out of favor. Read...
New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre Returns to ‘Drag: The Musical’ by Mark Malkin, Variety | The musical will run at the Bourbon Room in Hollywood March 15-30 before its New York City debut in the fall. Read...
Old Globe's ‘King James’ Finds Full Cast, Creative Team by Molly Higgins | Rajiv Joseph's play highlights the connections that sports can cultivate. Read...
Read entire plays for free! Free Reads titles are perfect for your theatre, school, and competition performances. Click on the Play’s title or image to be taken to the Play’s page; once you are there, click the "READ NOW" button and enjoy!
Free Read of the Week:
From the Mouths of Monsters by Idris Goodwin
The Story: Teenage poet Michelle is used to fading into the background. Performing at a poetry slam feels impossible until she is offered a mask with the power to remove the wearer’s doubts. But when the mask proves to have other strange powers, Michelle must dig deeper to find her true voice. An imaginative slam-poetry fable inspired by Frankenstein. Recommended for grades 3 and up!
Drama | 65 - 70 minutes | W, 1 Any (2-10 actors possible: 1-4 W, 0-3 M | Set: Minimal
"Break a leg" comes from Elizabethan times when actors received extra applause for a scene would then break a leg (give a courtly bow) to acknowledge the applause.