Broadway Battles Disruptive Audiences: Etiquette, Enforcement, and teh TikTok Effect
A growing wave of disruptive behavior is threatening the sanctity of the Broadway experience, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of theater etiquette and a broader conversation about audience obligation. From intoxicated outbursts to unauthorized recordings, incidents are increasingly common – and amplified by the reach of social media platforms like TikTok.
In 2016, Playbill published a list of 15 guidelines for theatergoers, covering everything from baggage restrictions to a ban on photography and singing during performances. However, these rules are frequently flouted, and the problem has become more visible thanks to platforms where audience members readily document and share thier experiences.
One especially troubling incident, detailed in a TikTok video posted in November 2025, involved a group of patrons at a performance of oh mama! at the Winter garden theater. According to the video, the group spent much of the first act “talking full volume,” engaging in conversations, filming the show, and repeatedly leaving their seats to sing and dance. despite a warning from security following a complaint during intermission, the disruptive behavior continued into the second act, culminating in a physical altercation when a group member allegedly struck another audience member after a false accusation of complaining. police were ultimately called to remove the group from the theater.
Another incident at oh mama! in January 2026 involved a man confronting fellow audience members he deemed “loud and obnoxious.” A video captured his outburst, in which he demanded security intervention, stating, “You want to make a scene? I’m going to make a scene! Mess with my teenage nieces again. Bulls-,”. According to a Reddit user,the man was briefly removed from his seat but returned for the second act.
the incident sparked debate online, with a Production Stage Manager of Oh mama! alleging that People.com published a biased article focusing solely on the man’s behavior while ignoring the initial disruptions caused by others. the stage manager,posting to tiktok under the handle @therapywithlarry,confirmed the group’s subsequent removal from the performance and criticized the media coverage. “People Magazine has taken to writing a one-sided article against this man, including a stock photo entitled ‘stock image of an angry man in a theatre’ and basically justifies the behavior of the women,” they wrote in a Reddit post. “This feels like a moment where a deeper conversation about theater etiquette and policies could be a wonderful way to connect the work we do more deeply with our audience,” they continued, advocating for “compassion for each other and respect.”
These incidents raise critical questions about the balance between artistic freedom, audience enjoyment, and the need to maintain a safe and professional environment for performers and creatives. Bootlegging, or unauthorized recording of performances, remains a persistent problem despite clear warnings. The availability of alcohol at many shows also contributes to disruptions, as there is currently no limit on consumption.
Actor Matt Manuel, currently performing in the Off-Broadway production of Spelling Bee, weighed in on the issue in a TikTok video, highlighting the direct line of sight between performers and audience members. “If you are sitting in the first three rows, maybe five, as clearly as you can see us, is as clearly as we can see you,” Manuel explained. “That means,if you are talking the entirety of the show,we see it. If you are making fun of people on stage, we see it.” He emphasized that basic theater etiquette should be self-evident, and that attending a performance is a choice. He recounted being distracted by an audience member applying makeup for 20 minutes during one show, concluding, “Let’s bring back thoughtfulness to theater.I know common sense ain’t common no more, but I really think, if you think hard enough about it, there’s an appropriate time to have a whole conversation [or] to talk about all the things you disliked about the show. Maybe not while the show is happening.”
The escalating challenges suggest that a renewed focus on audience education and stricter enforcement of existing rules may be necesary to preserve the magic of live theater.
