Community, Leadership, Experimentation, Diversity, & Education
Pittsburgh Arts, Regional Theatre, New Work, Producing, Copyright, Labor Unions,
New Products, Coping Skills, J-O-Bs...
Theatre industry news, University & School of Drama Announcements, plus occasional course support for
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Going to a show in Chicago? Be prepared to hand over your phone till it’s over
WBEZ Chicago: If you want a deep dive into Chicago arts and culture, check your phone at the door: The “unplugged” trend is growing locally among arts groups responding to a collective desire for more phone-free experiences. Organizers say they aim to deepen human connection and offer spaces for creating art.
Using phones in theaters ruins the experience for the person using the phone and everyone around them. However in an increasingly connected world it feels like we are often expected to be connected at all times. While I've never gone so far too check my phone actively during a show I find myself often checking my phone the moment that intermission starts to make sure that there isn't anything pressing that I need to respond to. I think the magnetic pouches mentioned in this article are the perfect solution to this problem. Not only do they cut down on people using their phones during the show and creating distractions but they prevent people like me from diluting the experience for themselves because they feel the need to "just respond to this really quick". This would also encourage people to read the playbill more thoroughly rather than simply skimming a few sections and missing important parts of the director's notes.
ReplyDelete