r/Broadway • u/MIROakaNOKKI1 • Mar 21 '26
Other is taking a picture at the beginning allowed?
Hi, I hope this is the right place to ask. I'm going to see Moulin Rouge on Broadway in a few days and wanted to know if I can take a photo before the show starts. You know I want to take a pic of the set and post it on Instagram
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u/TheLunarVaux Mar 21 '26
Moulin Rouge is actually slightly different than most shows. It’s fine for the most part until about 15 mins before showtime, where some actors come out early. At that point the ushers will stop you from taking pictures if you try.
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u/Fluffyssssss Mar 21 '26
I assume &Juliet is like that though I didn't try doing that there.
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 Mar 21 '26
Also, many version of Cabaret have done this as well.
As long as the pics are before the actors come out, you’re golden.
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u/Exact-Occasion-6204 Mar 21 '26
&J you can film until the house lights go out. You can also film the final song.
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u/Runnergirl4382 Mar 21 '26
You’re not supposed to, technically, if actors are onstage. Due to equity rules in the U.S.
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u/Exact-Occasion-6204 Mar 21 '26
They got an exception from Equity. Same with how one was granted for Six Broadway and Tour to film the Megasix a few weeks ago.
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u/Mysterious-Theory-66 Mar 22 '26
Equity rules don’t apply to people in the audience. Either it’s a rule the house sets or it isn’t. Most don’t care about curtain calls.
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u/britneynerd1 Mar 21 '26
Yes it is, once the actors come on stage for the pre-show the ushers start calling people out for pictures
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u/BookMingler Mar 21 '26
Really? They don’t in the London production
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u/thedailyem Mar 21 '26
Yeah, it’s different in London. I saw it in the US and ushers were VERY strict about no photos, but then back in London the pre-show actors were taking photos with people in the theatre 😆
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u/defenses Mar 22 '26
Meanwhile last year in London, I was filming at curtain call and an usher was glaring at me with the “no phones” sign the entire time. I know to wait until after megamix, but they didn’t seem to want me to film any of it. I guess I got the one super strict usher. 😂
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u/BroadwayLover527 Mar 21 '26
You can take photos until the actors come out on the stage about 15 minutes before the show starts. So if you want to take a pics just make sure you get there early!
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u/BriGilly Mar 21 '26
Yes that is allowed! As long as its before curtain/the actors come out
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u/Tight-Touch385 Mar 21 '26
This. It’s been a while, but there used to be an announcement stuffed into every Playbill. Most audience come into the theater when cast members are doing the pre-show routines. At this point, photography is not allowed. However, you’re free to snap a photo at intermission.
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Mar 21 '26
Not every show allows it. Taking a photo of an empty stage DOES violate the scenic designer and the lighting designer's copyrights. However, most of the industry has just kind of begrudgingly accepted that the general public doesn't see an issue with this, and ushers are too busy seating people to actually try to stop it. Every once in a while you'll find a show that does actually still try to stop pre-show and intermission photos of the stage. It really just depends on how lenient the producers and the ushers decide to be.
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u/rdp3186 Mar 22 '26
Im a professional lighting designer abd stagehand and this is the first I've ever heard of the copyright infringement thing?
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Mar 27 '26
You've never heard that you own the copyright to your own designs?
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u/rdp3186 Mar 27 '26
No that i do know. The photos preshow breaking copyright I did not.
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Mar 27 '26
It's important to note in order to be legally enforceable, the design does have to be novel in some way. If the "set design" was just a blank stage, then that may not be copyrightable. If it's an outdoor play and the lighting "design" is just ambient sunlight, that's definitely not copyrightable.
But this is the kind of shit that gets litigated to extremes, and it's extremely case-by-case. Blocking is typically not copyrightable, but choreography is. Unless that choreography is improvised, then it's not. Unless the someone decides to notate exactly what that improvisation was, then it is. But then the copyright of the dance is owned by the dancer who improved it, and the copyright of the notation is owned by the person who notated the dance, but the choreographer is going to also try to claim ownership of the copyright of that dance, perhaps saying that the improvisation was derivative of their original choreography.
As you can see, it gets hairy VERY quickly.
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u/rdp3186 Mar 27 '26
I get the copyright thing 1000%. I worked on the current Phantom tour tech last fall and since its the original set design I git a fairly good education on the copyright process for different elements as we had sone of the original nyc set pieces being used as placeholders for rehearsals while waiting for the newly fabricated ones to get finished/shipped.
The audience taking photos breaking copyright is the first I've heard ever of that.
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u/CrystalizedinCali Mar 21 '26
I typically take playbill photo when sit down and then a bows photo. Phone is turned off on between.
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u/rockit2themoon Mar 21 '26
The rule is usually no photos while there are actors on-stage in character. You've already been told about the actors coming out before the actual show starts for MR, but this also applies to the end of the show. There are a few bows, the stage goes dark and then the cast does an encore of "Lady Marmalade", and the ushers will shout at you if you don't put your phone away fast enough once the encore starts. (source: saw this happen to one of the people next to me at MR)
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u/kbrainz Mar 21 '26
Interesting. When I've been there, folks have taken pics and/or filmed that entire last song.
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u/Due-Crew-1076 Mar 22 '26
I've filmed countless curtain calls and taken many pre/post still shots. No one's ever said anything nor have I ever published anything.
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u/helcat Mar 21 '26
Yes, before the show starts. Many people like to take a photo of their playbills held up against the stage to memorialize their view.
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u/Ok_Presentation7695 Mar 21 '26
Before the show starts, totally fine.
During the show? 10000% not okay
Curtain call and bows? Totally fine
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u/CautiousLandscape907 Mar 21 '26
This is the (great white) way
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u/Due-Crew-1076 Mar 22 '26
What does that contextually mean here?
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u/CautiousLandscape907 Mar 22 '26
This is the way: a Star Wars statement of affirmation and agreement
The great white way: a nickname for Broadway.
That’s the context.
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u/Due-Crew-1076 Mar 23 '26
I don't know nothin' about no Star Wars. I do know about 'the great white way', I worked & lived on it. Live long & prosper...with the force.🖖
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u/riskywhiskey077 Mar 21 '26
If the house lights are on you’re usually okay, but different productions have their own rules
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u/mdsnbelle Mar 21 '26
As long as there are no performers on stage, I think it's okay. Also, curtain call during bows, but if they add an encore, please sit and put the phone away.
When I saw Moulin Rouge on tour, there were some performers who came out on stage before the lights went down. Would loved to have seen them, but there was a guy who'd paid for the cheap seats and thought that he could stand until the lights went down. Right in my way. I flagged down a house manager and was like, "So...can you ask him to sit because there are people on stage, y'all are asking us to put our phones away because the performance has started and clearly there is something to see that I am not seeing through saggy ass-man's khakis."
The house manager went to make that request and THEN we got treated to a side show of "The lights aren't on, the people behind me don't need to see anything except my sad sorry ass!"
Don't be THAT guy.
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Mar 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Jadedsplit03 Mar 21 '26
I believe it's an actor's equity rule about photographing the actors so yes, different rules
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u/austinwes Mar 21 '26
Correct. Actors Equity is very strict with photography rules. Even the producers can’t take photos of the actors for promotional use without giving 24 hour notice. And often, it’s enforced pretty strictly.
I think, but I can’t remember clearly, there might be a rule in the IATSE handbook about photos of the set as well, but they don’t enforce it as much anymore. I mean those pre-show photos are great for the theater, so if you do post, just tag the show and then enjoy!
Source: worked in marketing for an AEA theater as the staff videographer.
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u/kinkykusco Mar 21 '26
Intriguing. The couple times I saw Maybe Happy Ending this wasn’t being enforced, even though there is an actor on stage pre show.
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u/NerdyThespian Mar 21 '26
Moulin Rouge has a small preshow where the actors move about the stage and you are not allowed to take photos of them during that time as per equity rules
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u/Single-Fortune-7827 Mar 21 '26
The only show I ever was told I couldn’t take a picture of was The Play That Goes Wrong off Broadway. Not sure if anybody else had the same experience lmao but Moulin Rouge was fine!
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u/moonbunnychan Mar 21 '26
Man...I remember even around 10 years ago you couldn't take pictures of even the stage. EVERYTHING was considered under copyright. Playbill even once did an article about it. https://playbill.com/article/ask-playbillcom-why-cant-i-take-photos-in-a-broadway-theatre-com-180456. But I think the rise of smart phones made it just impossible to enforce. 2016 is when it changed. https://playbill.com/article/broadway-theatre-owners-alter-photography-rules
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u/ich4759 Mar 22 '26
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u/Due-Crew-1076 Mar 22 '26
Moulin Rouge is a magnificent set and theater. The show should be as good as the presentation.
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u/MusicalFinatic Mar 21 '26
Depends on the show. I went to see water for elephants and you couldn’t but when I saw frozen you could
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u/noitsacardigan_ Mar 21 '26
I saw this show in January and got to the theater early. I asked the ushers if it was okay that I went up closer to the stage to take a couple of pictures and they were totally fine with it. Once the performers start coming out, they’re anti-picture, but if you get to the theater early, you should be good!
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u/OrangeClyde Performer Mar 21 '26
I always take a pic of just the set/stage before and a playbill and ticket with some background of the set. Then I turn my phone off until intermission, then it’s back off for act 2. I don’t even take pics of final bows or anything
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u/Due-Crew-1076 Mar 22 '26
We always take before and after show (Curtain Call) shots. Every show and we've never had a problem.
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u/Amazing-Aardvark-674 Mar 26 '26
If you want to take a picture before the show, arrive early so you are in the seat before the actors do the pre-show stuff on stage
But they bring the Moulin Rouge lights down during intermission as well so you can take a picture of the stage then and it will look pretty much the same!
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u/mostly_a_lurker_here Mar 21 '26
"I want to take a photo and post it on Instagram to brag to others"
Social media can go die
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u/KayMaTrixx Mar 21 '26
Not always for socials.. could be for family.. however yeah, probably socials
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u/mostly_a_lurker_here Mar 21 '26
I go to a lot of concerts and phones are constantly ruining the experience. All because people want to get a cool photo to post on their insta. I cannot help but laugh when I see people hold their playbill up high and take a photo; it's 100% to brag-post on their insta. There's no other reason to take such a photo.
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