Come as you are: Dress and Behavior for the Theatre

Dress and Behavior for the Theatre

How should I dress?

In the not-so-distant past, theatre was a very formal event. Colorado has always been a little more casual, even creating the term “Colorado casual” to describe our style of dress. While some people may think that they need to dress up to the nines to attend theatre, they don’t - what’s important is that you are here.

At the Arvada Center, we want you to come as you are. However you choose to dress, please be mindful and respectful of your neighbors and the actors performing on stage. Some aspects that you can control to ensure that you as well as those around you have an enjoyable experience:

  • Take off tall hats and headwear that block the view of the person behind you.
  • Refrain from wearing extremely strong perfume/scents.
  •  Bring an easy-to-remove layer like a light jacket in case you get cold from the A/C. Alternatively, while our theatres are air-conditioned, they may become warmer once the seats are filled and stage lights are on.
  • Don’t bring any large bags. Your bag will need to be able to fit on your lap or under your seat – we don’t want actors or crew who may be walking around in the dark to trip on anything.
  • Make sure your shoes are safe for walking up and down the carpeted stairs in our theatres.
  • Feel free to have fun with your outfit! While jeans and a t-shirt are acceptable, dressing up or even wearing pieces that reflect the production you are seeing make the night that much more memorable. There is great people-watching to be had both off stage and on! 
  • While face masks are not currently required in our theatres, we want you to feel safe and comfortable when you visit. Please wear a face mask if you wish to - our Box Office has some available if you need one.

What should I expect?

When you visit the Arvada Center for live theatre, we want you and those around you to be comfortable. Here are a few suggestions to ensure that you have a smooth experience.

  • Show up early. We suggest arriving 30 minutes before showtime so that you have time to get a drink or a snack and visit the bathrooms before settling into your seat.  We suggest getting to your seat at least 5 minutes before the show begins. 
  • When given a digital program, please take the time to read it before the show or during the intermission. Phones may only be used during the show for accessibility tools such as closed captioning.
  • The Arvada Center has three constantly changing art galleries, so you can show up an hour before the show and have plenty of ways to fill your time. 
  • Feel free to respond to what you see on stage in a way that is respectful to those around you – laugh, sigh, groan, cry. Be vulnerable! 
  • Give a round of applause after musical numbers and scene endings, but save any conversations for intermission or after the show. 
  • Refrain from singing along loudly unless the cast invites you to do so. 
  • While drinks are allowed in our theatres, food is not. We ask that you please eat at intermission or before the show so that the actors and fellow audience members are not distracted. 
  • Keep the ringer for your phone turned off and volume on mute. 
  • Please – no photos or videos during the show. We’d love to see any photos you take of yourself in the lobby or around the Center before or after the performance though. Play and musical publishers prohibit photos and videos of the works they license to us, and flash photos can also distract the actors.
  • Standing ovations at the end of the show are always welcome. 

Lastly, tell us what you think! We love to hear people’s opinions through our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), emails, and surveys. We send an email out after each performance, so keep an eye on your email - and add AC_Cust_Serv@arvadacenter.org to your contacts so you don't miss communication from us. 

By providing us with feedback, we can continue to create and produce theatrical programming that our audiences love. 

If you have any questions, accessibility needs, or other concerns, please feel free to contact our Box Office at 720-787-7200 or info@arvadacenter.org.

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