You don't say "good luck" in theatre because it's considered bad luck; instead, you say "break a leg," a phrase meant to trick mischievous spirits into bringing good fortune or to wish for a great performance that earns many bows (breaking the "leg line" or bending the leg). The superstition stems from a belief that spirits in old theatres cause the opposite of a stated wish, so wishing "bad" luck ensures good results.
The “Scottish Curse.”
Don't say Macbeth, or even quote that play, in a theater. Ever. Theater people believe it will bring disaster.
It's considered bad luck to wish an actor good luck. The habit likely comes from the idea that wishing good luck will jinx the performance. Instead, theater people will declare, “Break a leg!” as a statement of well wishes.
If you've ever had a career in the arts, or know someone who has, you are likely aware that saying the word “Macbeth” inside a theatre is strictly taboo unless one is rehearsing or in the midst of performing Shakespeare's dark tragedy. Doing so is almost universally believed to bring about bad luck or even disaster.
Some say the term originated during Elizabethan times when, instead of applause, the audience would bang their chairs on the ground — and if they liked it enough, the leg of the chair would break. The most common theory refers to an actor breaking the “leg line” of the stage.
It's a common superstition among actors, directors, and stagehands to avoid saying aloud the name Macbeth while in the theatre itself, under the belief that to do so will bring bad luck and/or curse the production.
Toi toi toi. "Toi toi toi" (English: /ˈtɔɪ ˈtɔɪ ˈtɔɪ/) is an expression used in the performing arts to wish an artist success in an imminent performance. It is similar to "break a leg" and reflects a superstition that wishing someone "good luck" is in fact bad luck.
Wearing green on stage is considered bad luck in France! This superstition dates back to the 17th century when playwright Molière famously wore green during his final performance before passing away. Would you dare to break the rule?
Among theater people, Macbeth is such a curse that they won't even say the name of the play, instead using the "M" word or any number of nicknames that have been created for the play.
It's bad luck to say 'good luck', so stick to 'break a leg' or as the wonderful Matthew Kelly once suggested 'don't be sh**! '. There are a number of possible origins of the phrase 'break a leg'. One theory has to do with the 'legs' of the theatre.
1) Saying “Macbeth” in the theatre curses the production.
Most actors will only refer to Shakespeare's famous tragedy as “The Scottish Play,” “The Bard's Play” or even “Mac B.” Some believe that Shakespeare gave his three witch characters in the opening scene real spell incarnations for lines.
From an etiquette standpoint, Cinemablend states that a short kiss on the lips is almost always acceptable but to avoid disturbing other movie patrons, kissing should not go beyond ten seconds; as well, couples who wish to kiss should try to sit at the back of the auditorium and choose a sparsely attended film.
If you say good luck and there's no context then it may be seen as sarcastic. Also don't over pronounce the words as that always makes it seem sarcastic. Also never add "with that" as again sarcastic. Good luck on "subject", or hope you have good luck with "subject" can help convey sincerity .
The golden rule of theater etiquette is to respect the performers, the audience, and the theater space. Those involved in a production work very hard to give a great performance. It is the job of the audience to give the performance the respect it deserves.
7 Rules of Theatre Audience Etiquette
The most common cases of bad theatre etiquette involve audience members talking incessantly, making excessive noise through some questionable choices of food (Seriously, can't you find sweets that DON'T rustle? Or at the very least, wait until the interval) and an increased use of people checking their phones.
The expression "Curse of Scotland" is sometimes used simply to refer to an occasion of bad luck at cards and can also refer generally to unwanted situations in Scotland, such as swarms of midges.
Theatrical superstition holds that speaking the name Macbeth inside a theatre will lead to a curse.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
Don't say the 'M' word!
Saying 'Macbeth' in a theatre will immediately bring you bad luck. According to folklore, the play's history of bad luck began at its very first performance (circa 1606) when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare was forced to replace him.
Orange and green are opposite on the color wheel and in this case, opposites don't attract: orange and green can have a jarring effect, a bit too bold in the wrong way.
The word theatre comes from an ancient Greek word meaning a 'place for seeing. ' 9. The old superstition of no whistling on stage comes from the time when theatres used to hire sailors as stagehands and riggers, and cues were called using whistling commands.
Florence Foster Jenkins (born Narcissa Florence Foster; July 19, 1868 – November 26, 1944) was an American socialite and amateur coloratura soprano who became known, and mocked, for her flamboyant performance costumes and notably poor singing ability.
Language in ballet carries its own taboos. Where actors might say “break a leg” or wish each other good luck, dancers typically avoid these phrases entirely. Instead, they say “merde.” The origin of this tradition goes back to nineteenth-century France, when horse-drawn carriages delivered audiences to theaters.
That "one opera song everyone knows" is often debated, but the top contenders are Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) for its epic feel, Verdi's "La Donna è Mobile" (from Rigoletto) for its ubiquity in ads, and Bizet's "Habanera" (from Carmen) for its sultry tune, plus Mozart's "Queen of the Night" aria for its vocal fireworks and Rossini's "Largo al factotum" (Figaro's aria) for its fast pace. You've likely heard one of these, or perhaps Puccini's "O mio babbino caro," used in countless movies and shows.