The Top 5 Theatre Superstitions

September 24, 3:04 PMDenver Theater ExaminerDeb Flomberg

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The ghost light - never leave a theatre in the dark!

Actors and Theatre Folk are often very superstitious people. From telling an actor to "break a leg" on opening night to leaving a light always burning, there are many different superstitions that we all follow.

5. Whistling on stage
It is said that whistling either on stage or back stage is bad luck. The story goes that stage hands used to whistle to communicate their scene changes. If an actor or passerby whistled, then the scene change would go horribly wrong.

4. Ghost Lights
Supposedly, there should always be a light on in a theatre or a ghost will take up residence there.

3. The Last Line of the Play
Many theatre people say that it is bad luck to utter the last line of a play before opening night - because the play is not complete without an audience.

2. Break A Leg
It is bad luck to tell an actor "good luck" before a play. There are many versions of where this comes from, but personally my favorite explanation is that there are many ghosts in theatres that like to cause trouble. So if they hear you ask for something in a theatre, then they do the opposite. So by wishing someone would "break a leg" they'd cause the opposite to happen.

1. That Scottish Play
Never say Macbeth in a theatre! Ever! It will cause all sorts of bad things to happen! There are many reasons for this one as well, the most common reason being that the first time the play was performed, the actor playing Macbeth died before the first production and he curses any other production of the play. Another possible reason is that the witches incantations in the play are actual curses. No one knows for sure where this one comes from - but you will hear actors refer to the show as "The Scottish Play" rather than ever say the name.
 

Do you have a favorite theatre superstition? Leave a comment and share your personal favorite!