It’s finally here! An all-day award show extravaganza I’m calling “Sunday Funday”! The Superbowl of Broadway also known as The Tony Awards will air this Sunday as well as the televised broadcast of TUTS’ Tommy Tune Awards. While filling out the invites to my glam Tony-watch party (It’s BYOBD….Be Your Own Broadway Diva) I realized Sunday is also the 13th of June. 13 is a fabulous musical, but is it a safe day to do an award show live with of millions of viewers? Remember the Brett Michaels incident last year? Perhaps a few old school theatre rituals will ward off any evil!
Theatre superstitions originated centuries ago and may seem silly, but the traditions carry on even today. Did you know you should never tell a performer “good luck” before a performance? It sounds like a kind phrase of well wishes but it can actually cause an adverse affect. Instead you should say, “Break a leg.” (Does Hallmark make a card for I-hope-you-break-a-limb?) Nobody knows where this rather violent command got its origins, but in the Shakespearian days, to “break” also meant “bend”. If a show was well received the actor would take a bow when receiving his applause and therefore need to bend. Essentially you’d hope to break lots of legs during a shows run! Technically speaking, a “leg” is also a word for curtain. If a show is a success, several curtain calls will be made and could easily wear out the machinery that raises and lowers the curtain or “leg” and end up breaking it.
Another big no-no to do backstage is whistling. Years ago, theatre managers hired out-of-work sailors to run the fly loft, or the area of ropes to hold scenery and backdrops. Because they were a whiz at knots and ropes, sailors were an ideal tech crew for early theatres. The best way for these guys to communicate with each other during the show was to whistle signals and cues. If somebody else were to whistle it could confuse the fly loft workers and a set could accidently get changed, or worse, hit the actor with a falling sandbag!
What is a lesson in theatre superstitions without a little paranormal activity? That’s right, I mean ghosts! Ever wonder why TUTS doesn’t perform shows on Monday nights? Monday is the night they clean out the ghosts! Only kidding! This custom started way before TUTS began in Houston. It was believed years ago that any ghost who inhabits a theatre needs at least one night a week to have a chance to perform on their own. Traditionally this has always been on a Monday which conveniently gives actors a day off after a full weekend of performances. When the theatre is left empty, a “ghost light” is always left burning and placed downstage center, or near the edge of the stage. Just like the name implies, it is a light left in the theatre for ghosts who want perform. If you fail to leave the light on, strange and unexplainable mishaps begin to happen. More than likely the origins of a ghost light developed to prevent people from tripping over the sets and getting hurt. But isn’t it eerie to imagine a ghostly performance? I wonder what show they would perform…Phantom of the Opera?
Here are a few additional superstitions I remember from my glory days in the theatre. They may seem crazy, but don’t judge! If athletes choose not to change their socks during a winning streak we can choose to avoid peacock feathers!
- Actors should never sleep with the script under their pillow. Not only will you not learn your lines this way, but it is said to cause bad luck.
- Real money should not be used on stage.
- Only wear costume jewelry on stage, leave the Harry Winston jewels at home.
- Gifts and flowers should be given to actors after a show, never before.
- Avoid using peacock feathers on costumes, props or set pieces.
- Never say the last line of a play during rehearsals. The show isn’t “finished” until it’s performed in front of an audience. A way to avoid this is to invite people to attend the dress rehearsals.
- The cast should not practice their bows until they feel they truly deserve them.
- Never wear brand-new stage makeup on opening night.
- Shoes and hats should never be placed on tables or chairs inside the dressing rooms.
- Always exit the dressing room with your left foot first.
Superstitions and rituals seem silly but made their way into our culture. Have you heard of any of the superstitions mentioned above? Did you ever see a mishap happen on stage?