Top Theatre Etiquette Rules

When teaching students who are brand-new to theatre, it’s important to discuss and apply the expectations of the drama classroom, and the theatrical world. We chatted with Kerry Hishon on the Drama Teacher Podcast, as she shared her expertise on how to implement and instill theatre etiquette with your students. Here are 5 key tips for introducing and following Theatre Etiquette in the classroom and in rehearsal. 1. Define theatre etiquette• Theatre etiquette is how you behave in the drama classroom or in a rehearsal in order to get along and be a good person in the theatrical world. It’s important to define a code of behaviour in the classroom or in rehearsal. Your students are pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone. They’re exploring characters who are different from them. They’re exploring unfamiliar stories. They’re trying to move their bodies in different ways. Students need a safe place where they can express these things, where they can try new things and not be afraid of making a mistake. Theatre etiquette involves coming up with ways to create a safe place. Help students succeed, feel comfortable to express themselves, and try new things. 2. Involve your students in defining the expectations.• It’s important for students to contribute to creating rules, because that way they can take ownership of the drama classroom. Students need to know that this is their classroom. If they’ve come up with their procedures or ways of doing things, they can really take ownership. Obviously, if they need need a little bit of direction, you can help shape expectations into what will work for the experience and the particular group of kids. But make sure students are involved from the beginning. 3. The basis of theatre etiquette = respect.• If students are respectful of themselves, of each other, of the crew members, of the teacher and the director, they’re able to grow and develop as actors, as performers, and as people. When students have that respect for their classroom and for themselves, they can allow themselves to open up, express themselves more and learn more. They can use that respect in every other situation they encounter in life – whether it’s other classes, a first job, dealing with family. 4. Theatre etiquette ensures an equal footing for onstage and offstage company members.• Remind your students that the applause is for everyone. The actors onstage at the end get the big bow. They get the applause. With backstage crew and stage managers, when their job is done well you don’t notice anything going wrong or anything unexpected. If the show is smooth and beautiful, they’ve done their job, but they don’t get to go out and take a bow. They’re backstage hidden in the black clothing. Actors need to be reminded that the crew, the stage management team, the designers and everyone backstage needs to be treated with respect. 5. Theatre etiquette extends to the audience.• Etiquette rules like being quiet backstage, or hanging up your costume properly – the small things add up to create the final amazing production. Remind students that, no matter what role you’re doing on the show, whether it’s an onstage or backstage role, you’re all contributing to the same ultimate goal: to create a magical world for your audience. You’re going to take them out of their everyday lives, transport them, and tell them this amazing story. At their heart of it, everybody in a production really does want to do their best. Everybody wants a safe place. Everybody wants adulation from the audience. Following theatre etiquette rules means that the audience gets the respect they deserve. To learn more about Kerry Hishon’s experience with Theatre Etiquette, check out her course at the Drama Teacher Academy or listen to the podcast at Theatrefolk.com/episode166.

The magic of theatre isn’t just in the performances; it’s woven into the traditions that bring us together! From heartwarming pre-show rituals to quirky backstage customs, these traditions create a sense of belonging and excitement for both students and educators. We asked: What traditions do you have with your theatre program? Feed your soulWe always have a potluck supper together on opening night. It’s Mississippi: food is a bonding experience! (Chelsea P.) Create meaningful momentsBefore each performance I hold “My Little Corner Of The World.” That is where the entire cast and crew meet with me and we share positive thoughts and feelings about the show and each other. There are lots of hugs and good feelings. (Bil G.) One student per show receives our journal and they get to write about their experiences in that show. Only a student that receives the journal gets to look inside. I also choose one student and make them into a monkey in the style of the character they portrayed in that show, which started because I bought a monkey border for my classroom. The monkeys are displayed in my class with a picture of that student from the play and a program. (Jen M.) I always gave my kids Angel Cards on opening night and suggested they use their inspirational word to discover something new in the play or character that night. They’d lead each other in warm-ups pre-show and I’d then have them circle up to give them each a card. If they wanted to, they could share their word and what it meant to them as a connection to the show. (Beverly B.) Embrace fun ritualsYou had to dance to enter the paint storage room. Backstory: the door to storage led to even more doors. And one does not simply walk into Mordor… (Ryne M.) This is such a great question and brings back so many memories! For the past 25 years, I’ve had a tradition for opening night: I pick a lead character and a prop, then sneak in a funny photo — whether it’s a baby picture or a celebrity crush. It’s always an inside joke, and I team up with their friends to pull it off. The kids eagerly await "prank opening night," and my students never break character! For example, during The Odd Couple, we put a senior’s baby photo in Felix’s baby book. Last year, in Alice in Wonderland, when the rabbit opened the court scroll, we swapped in his first recital photo. The students never know who I’ll choose, but they always get a little teary-eyed after the show! (Eric M.) Graduates get to sign the wall in our storage closet. Before every show, we hold hands and chant “Go Bananas,” beginning with a whisper and building energy each time we chant until we’re bouncing off the walls. In between performances, we eat pizza and then try to perform other actors’ scenes from memory. We are committed to being kind, brave, and curious, and we reference those traits often. (Annie E.) Develop energy-building warm-up routinesI am the theater assistant at my high school and also an alumnus. I am trying to re-establish traditions because there was no smooth transition between directors. Combine that with COVID and traditions fell by the wayside. I brought back "frequency" as a pre-show warm-up. Everyone gathers hands and we "pass" a squeeze around. It takes a few times to get it right. I have also started a new tradition of a senior key chain that has a charm for each show they've done along with some charms to represent the school. (Cory R.) Pass the pulse before EVERY SHOW and pass the clap at the end of EVERY REHEARSAL and quiet coyote kisses before every green room to stage exit. (Southfork PA) Honour the teamOpening night we recognize new performers with a Premier button. We have Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum company members that are differentiated by the number of shows they’ve done. We inducted the cast and crew at half hour. Post Strike, the crew signs the walls of the catwalk. (Chris C.) Incorporate secret traditionsWe use special props from past plays in current plays even if they are hidden. It’s a small thing that brings me joy and hopefully to them too! (Susan B.) Sorry I couldn’t tell you about our high school traditions; I’ve been told never to tell anyone! It’s a senior secret! But yes, dressing room traditions and chants only our drama department knew! Also a warm up that was different for each show. (Jack R.) I bought this weird 3-D picture of the Santa Maria (Columbus’ boat) at a thrift store (it’s about 8 by 10) and we’ve had it somewhere on the set in every show since we opened the new auditorium in 2000! It’s become a Waldo kind of thing that only the kids know about. Alumni will come to shows and look for it on the set. (JM E.)

As theatre educators, we typically do what we do because of a passion for both theatre and teaching. When our students struggle, we’re often the first ones in their corner cheering them on. But what happens when we’re the ones struggling? When the daily stresses and frustrations add up until you feel like the show can’t go on? We went straight to the source to get the inside scoop from those who’ve been there: drama teachers. We asked: What motivational words would you offer a struggling drama teacher? Have funLet yourself play — and let the kids play! Stop, drop, and goof around! (Julia B.) If you can laugh and your students can laugh every lesson, then you’re doing it right! Teach the students to look after their voices so you can look after yours! (Robert D.) Have fun with it, show them how much you love it. The more excited you get about what you are teaching, the more excited they will get about what you are teaching. Share that love you have for it with them! (Misty R.) Learn to laugh. We’re all fallible and so are the kids. Learn to enjoy the process together. You are all developing artists. Learn to grow together. (David V.) Find the magicRemember when you first had that awe-inspiring moment of, “It’s magic!” in the theater? You get to set up the structure for an unsuspecting kid to get hit with that same amazing moment. (Rachel W.) Remember why you do thisRemember that teacher who inspired you as a kid. (Aoife H.) Remember your WHY!!!! (Claire L.) Don’t look at the big picture. Find the little moments, a student who finally “gets it” or a moment of connection you had with a group. It’s the little moments that get you through, especially in a job where we’re usually the only one there. (Andi C.) Theatre skills are life skills. Your students may never use these skills for acting but they’ll always have them for use in life. (Zack P.) It’s all about relationships! Work on relationships. (Andy L.) It’s not always easyIf everything is easy and everyone is comfortable, you’re doing it wrong. (Scott G.) It gets better. (Joshua D.) It’s a temporary glitch. Trust in your skills and knowledge. You’ve got this! (Heidy P.) Teaching is a lot like tech / “hell” week. You remember all of the things that are going wrong, and sometimes don’t have time to acknowledge all of the really awesome things happening. You feel like the whole thing is a mess. But, in the end, most people see a lovely end product and applaud all of that hard work you did. In the same vein, there are others with you in other schools (or “productions,” with this analogy) who see what you’re doing and realize exactly how much of you went into what the public sees. You are not alone, but you ARE trained and ready for this! (Kathryn H.) What you do mattersYou are planting seeds of growth and in time the fruits of your labor will flourish. (Andrea K.) You will make a difference if you continue to expose them to theater. Kids have so much fun. (Nadine J.) They may not tell you this but you may be the reason some kids attended school today. (TD) A good teacher is one who knows they know nothing and starts from the heart. (Andrea S.) You’re the whole reason some of the kids in your class can express themselves at all! (Stephen C.) The journey is every bit as important as the end product. Encourage students to stop and smell the greasepaint along the way. When you engage students in creative play, improv, rehearsal, and performance, you are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime. (Kathi T.) You matter and your work matters, so much! (OTC) Your work is important, vital, and necessary. (Sarah L.) Keep some perspectiveThe show will go up. The show will come down. You will be in your yoga pants. Borrowing from someone who said it to me. (Jennifer P.) Remind yourself that they are just high schoolers (or whatever grade level you teach). They are really good at acting like adults 75% of the time and that can make it hard to remember that they are still kids and will still do dumb things. Love them through it. It’s worth it. (Brittany M.) It’s not the bells and whistles, use what you have to make it work. We don’t have a theatre, but have a successful program due to imagination, practice, and fun! (Beth G.) Make self-care a priorityIt’s okay to take days off. Rest is important. (Tabitha C.) Those relaxation/breathing exercises you do with your kids? DO THEM. Always remember the BIG PICTURE. (Andy R.) Take five. Sometimes you learn the most by listening to them talk to each other. (Shannon R.) It takes a villageAsk for help. You’re not alone. Make a list and then figure out what can be taken off your plate or done by others. (Christa D.) Pace yourself. Don’t compare your program to others. Always keep the kids in mind. Make friends with the coaches, custodians, secretaries, and bookkeeper. They are amazing people who will provide you with support. Ask for what you need. You’ll never know if you don’t try! Find joy in the little things. (Carolyn G.) You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Find the allies in your school. Set up a system for parent, community, and alumni volunteers. And remember that this is educational theatre and you are working with earnest amateurs. Allow yourself and others an extra measure of patience and grace. (Erin M.) You’ve got thisLife is like a big box seat. You never miss a thing and you’re in total control. (Fiona Y.) You’re doing it right. It’s a process for everyone. (Anne M.) Just keep showing up! (Corianna L.) The show must go on! Seriously, you will get the hang of it! (Caitlin P.) The show is going to come together and it will be great! Enjoy the ride! (Kelly R.)