The lights are dimmed, and the actors take their places on stage. This is the cue for the audience to turn off their cell phones, stop conversing with one another and sit back and enjoy the performance.
However, proper theater etiquette has been lost on some students at The University of Memphis. The question is then raised as to why audience members don't know how to behave in this live setting. Is it because our culture is so fast-paced that some audience members simply do not know how to sit still? Or is it because etiquette hasn't been taught in classrooms and homes prior to the curtain going up?
"People are afraid of being still," said Anita J. Lenhart, Associate
Professor and Coordinator of BFA of Performing Arts.
"Not a lot of other cultural events require the audience to hold their energy. However, being able to do so is a very rich part of human experience," Lenhart said.
Some audience members have not been exposed to live theater prior to it being a requirement for a class at The U of M.
"I personally think people shouldn't be faulted for not being taught in class the proper way to behave during a live performance," said Jennifer Bauer, a graduate student and director of the upcoming U of M production "The Serpent."
"However, when you don't know how to behave you're not just disturbing your fellow audience members, you're disturbing the actors as well," Bauer said.
Some actors from The University of Memphis agree that the experience of live theater can suffer if the audience does not know how to behave.
"The audience adds the final element to a play, and the actors feed off their energy. When the audience is disrespectful it affects the performance in a negative way and it makes for an unpleasant experience for the actor," said Lindsey Stanfill, a senior theater performance major.
Other actors feel that the same etiquette should be expected in theater as is expected during other live events or ceremonies.
"When you go to a movie theater you don't expect people to yell back at the screen," said Grant Hatton, a senior theater performance major.Lenhart said the behavior one has during live theater should be that of stillness, understanding and appreciation.
"There is enormous ignorance in our culture outside the arenas of rock concerts and sporting events. Considering these are the types of events most college students attend, they seem to bring that culture over to all other live events," Lenhart said.
Whether or not attending live theater should be required for students is a question that professors must answer themselves.
"I don't understand why it should be required, but I do believe that a number of cultural events should be required for students," said Eric Duerr, a senior theater performance major.
Jennifer Bauer agrees that cultural events should be required to enrich student's college experiences.
"College is a time to explore new things and choosing not to do so, you are only doing a disservice to yourself," Bauer said.
One aspect of this situation that actors, directors and audience members should be able to agree on is that live theater is an experience that is like no other. Theater is a cultural experience that can often be enlightening, exciting and moving.
"Theater is a collaboration between the actor and the audience," Lenhart said. "If the audience doesn't step up, then they're missing out on what it means to be a culturally adept human being."
