BWW Readers React to Patti LuPone's Cell Phone Grab During Last Night's Performance

As BWW reported earlier today, a rude audience member continued the recent rash of inappropriate theater behavior during last night's performance of Shows For Days at Lincoln Center.

Following the show's matinee performance, which one audience member described as, "Cell Phone Hell", star Patti LuPone reached the limit of her patience during the evening performance and snatched a cell phone out of the hands of an audience member who was texting.

Lincoln Center has confirmed to BroadwayWorld that the incident did in fact take place. Audience members also took to Twitter to report their account, including CatsPolitics who tweeted: I saw Patti LuPone deliver her scene exit line tonight at Lincoln Center & SNATCH A CELL PHONE OUT OF AN AUDIENCE MEMBER'S HAND."

Since BroadwayWorld posted the story, our readers have shared their strong reactions to the incident on Facebook. Check out some of their comments below and be sure to add your response to the recent breach in theater etiquette displayed over the last several weeks!

Kerry Sanderson I just sat through an amazing performance in the West End of Miss Saigon with the couple next to chatting loudly throughout it, even at quiet moments. Rude and distracting. You are not in front of your TV folks. There are live, talented people in front of you doing their job, and audience members that have come to get lost in the story. Respect that or please stay home! Well done Patti.

Alexandria Strully Audience members are horrific! Even when you go to see a movie. People on their phones, talking full volume.... People no longer know how to behave in an audience setting and I wish those people would STAY HOME.

Timothy Huang As a theater artist who hates dressing up, I can't get behind criticizing folks for how they dress when they attend. But I do think people tend to view group audience experiences too similarly to individual ones. In a movie theater it is troublesome at...See MoreKelly Morgan I wholeheartedly support Patti LuPone. Turn your phone off the second you enter the theatre. Respect the theatre, the performers and the people in the audience who came to enjoy the theatre, not to hear your phone conversations or see your phone light up while texting.

Michelle McKean What is going on in theatres this week?!?!!! Got to love Patti LuPone though, don't ever mess with her!! Nobody handles a cell phone problem like her, perfect!

Stephanie Kane Gordon I really wish the ushers would be more on top of all of this disruptive behavior like talking and texting during shows! at the last Broadway show we saw, as soon as the curtain came up, a woman pulled out a big bag of popcorn and she and her daughter ate it during the show, making so much noise! I even told the usher, but they didn't do anything! crazy.

Laurence Siegel · It has to begin with early education. It's not just about the theatre. People are connected to their devices as appendages. You see it on the street, at dinner parties, in restaurants. People don't consider it rude to take or make a call or text inthe presence of others.There is more than a slight narcissitic flavour to their disregard for others in interupting a performer on stage. I think we are doomed. They are with us. Maybe Ms. LuPone has the only idea that will work. Shame may be our most powerful response.

Lynn Schwag Thinking some people should stay home.

Marc Deren I do not understand why theaters sell candies...candy wrappers noise is so annoying !!
You will tell me : they make money by selling candies
But a solution should be found : I've seen a theater once where they put the candies you bought in a paper cup so that you won't bother your neighbors during the whole second act fetching in the plastic wrapper !!

Scot PJ MacDonald I think we've grown addicted to technology and having information on demand. It's a little scary that people can't put the phone down for two hours to get away from it all.

Samuel M Carollo Alexandria Strully that is why my wife and I only go to early morning movies with the senior citizens. No talking on phones and no texting.

Kyna Miller-Cole It breaks my heart, the amount of disrespect for the live theatre displayed nowadays. How dare you come to the theatre dressed in shorts and flip flops! The nerve of the cell phone users during the play. Oh, and let's not forget the latecomers who are in the middle of the row...just walking in...drink in hand....like the world owes them. I want to scream at them. Instead, I just sit and fume.

Greg Bateson sorry but i will take silent texting over chatting couples any day. how bad is your focus as an actor to notice texting.....ringing i understand. but how about looking at your fellow actors instead of the audience.

Tim Graham From the days when people started wearing jeans and t-shirts to the theatre I've thought most need a major overhaul in theatre etiquette. Don't get me started on that awful "rebel yell" instead of applause.

John Manganiello Respect for the Theater means paying attention to what's happening on the stage, instead of constantly checking your messages, texting, etc.Not to mention how distracting it is for other Audience members, and the Performers .

Dee DAngelone Brown You GO Patti...people these days can't enjoy anything #LIVE..if it doesn't have a screen or keyboard they cannot relate...ugh !!!

Katie Queener My biggest pet peeve is when audience members sit out there and sing during a musical. It's like, I didn't pay $200 to hear you sing. I paid that money to hear the professional. Shut the eff up.

Sherry Floyd Ackman Wish there was a way to control bad behavior at shows its so distracting. Had drunk Americans in front of me at west end performance. Started talking with British accent to disassociate myself!!

Shannon Lee Magouirk Rude, overly casual theater attendees in bootie shorts and flip flops who act they are at the movie theater down the street has been an issue of mine more and more...

Marcus Christopher Williams It's disgusting and good for Patti!

Photo credit: Joan Marcus