BWW Blog: Chelsey Robichaud - The Types of People You Meet in the Audience

When you've been to many shows, you have MANY stories to tell! Not just of the amazing or "goodish" show you saw, but interactions with audience members. In no particular order, here are my experiences! I feel that you can relate to most!

1) The family from Texas that brings their kids, snacks, a video camera and says "YAAAHOOOOO" every 30 seconds.
I wish I was exaggerating. This happened. Grateful that the mother stopped yelling by the end of Act 1 and that the Usher stopped the video camera during intermission. Yes kids are hungry but they were literally having a meal of M&M's, pop and every candy in existence.

2) The Tourists Who Don't Know Anything About Musicals
I've always come across people who don't quite know about the show and I love to spread the love of theatre to them! Recruiting new fans! They are so cute and I love helping them.

3) The Old gentleman with an Adam Pascal Obsession.
Yes this happened. At "Memphis" in 2011 and his wife was laughing at him as we talked for what felt like an hour about Adam. He saw him in AIDA! I hope he saw Memphis with Adam in it the following summer.

4) The Men Sitting Behind You Swearing Because the Star Isn't in the Show.
Anything Goes 2011. Poor Sutton Foster had a back muscle spasm at the matinee so she couldn't perform at our performance. These two cute old men in bow ties were saying "WELL SHIT! FUCK!" when they found the saddest slip of paper they've seen since getting the pink slip for singing "Do Re Mi" in gym class.

5) The Women Sitting in Front of You with Perfume
OMG THIS NEEDS TO BE A RULE.
We were at "Nice Work If You Can Get It" in 2012. Two women had the strongest perfume. The Playbill was in front of my nose the entire time. I couldn't breathe. The show was spectacular anyhow. I'm glad in Canada we are filled with "no scent" policies.

6) The Five Year Old at the Book of Mormon
Intermission I noticed a young boy at Book of Mormon. Though I think there are children who are mature and can understand some shows such as Fun Home, I feel this is not for children at least under 11. I wonder how many questions he had for his mom - or it probably went in one ear and out another.

7) One of your idols.
Mia Michaels AT FINDING NEVERLAND. That is all. Growing up dancing and watching her judge on So You Think You Can Dance made the 13 year old me giddy and want to cry in the middle of the A.R.T.

8) The Guy Who Falls Asleep in the Audience.
WHY?! Well theatre isn't for everyone. But still, during Grease?! It was Act One...

9) The rich people who see theatre for the sake of adding it to their resume of excursions
I know of someone who is seeing Wicked because their friends have yet they have NEVER seen Wizard of Oz nor have had an interest..

And finally

10) Fellow Broadway fans

I just love meeting fellow fans! I've had memorable conversations with fans at stage doors, in the audience and at 6am in a rush line. You get to exchange theatre stories and it is the best!