imolive

I will be taking my two teenage sons to see Hairspray. I am uncertain what the appropriate dress for us will be. Advice would be greatly appreciated!

Travelkitty

Nowadays, you couldn't really dress wrong for a Broadway show if you tried. While many people still dress up, many people are fairly casual, especially for a show whose audience often includes younger people, like Hairspray. Are you going to dinner before or after the show? Which restaurant you choose could affect the decision. I'd say you'd be fine with something along the "business casual" line. For the teenage boys, I'd suggest khakis or even nice jeans and some sort of a button down or polo shirt or sweater.

suzanne

I agree with Travelkitty. Though you will see people wearing everything from jeans & sneakers to formal sequin gowns, the most appropriate attire is something in the middle.

When I go to a show I typically wear a blouse and slacks, or a pants suit. I rarely wear a skirt or dress because sometimes it can be chilly in the theaters.

almesq

As the others said, pretty much anything goes. Everything has gotten more casual in recent years, including the theatre. You'll see everything from jeans and sneakers (and even shorts in the summer) to people in suits and ties. Also, at matinees you'll find a larger portion of the audience much more casual. Also as the others have said, I generally wear a pair of khaki type pants, and a collared polo type shirt or button down.

lisettemac

Ditto what everyone else said, but I just wanted to add that I find many of the theatres to be cold, so you might dress on the warmer end.

Jayne1973

I was pleasantly surprised when I first attended a Broadway show. I imagined everyone being dressed "to the nines" and was concerned about being underdressed. I think it's great that seeing the show matters more than being seen at the show. Have a great time...wish I was going!

Patrick

lisettemac, actually I find that theatres use reverse logic. When it is hot outside in the summer, they turn down the air conditioning until you almost freeze in the theatre. But in the winter when it's cold outside they crank up the heat until you sweat up a storm.

nytraveler

I must admit I've never seen anyone in a formal gown at the theater - except on the stage. I've seen a few in cocktail or dinner dresses but never a gown. Perhaps for an openmng night? (Although in Houston I did actually once see 2 women in ball gowns and tiaras in a public restaurant - weird!)
Usually attire ranges from sloppy through casual, business causal to business to sophisticated dinner - with the bulk of goers in the central three.

J_Correa

Patrick - I've noticed this temperature issue all over the place. I've never understood why people blast the AC in the summertime and blast the heat in the wintertime. The temperature should be comfortable for what people are likely to be wearing.

When we were in NO we almost froze inside some buildings because the AC was blasting - even at our hotel. We stayed in an old house which only had 1 control for the AC per floor so we couldn't turn it down. I was wishing for my flannel jammies - LOL.

MadisonV

Just got in from our first trip to NY,
Took my 16yr old daughter to see Hairspray. She loved it, so did I. She wanted to wear jeans but I made her wear a nice pair of casual pants. All the teens that I saw were not dressed up, jeans or casual pants are fine. Let them have fun......

mariasch

Sure you can get away with sloppy attire while seeing a show on Broadway, wearing shorts in historical churches and wearing a jogging suit when flying on an airplane but it doesn't hurt to show a little respect for your enviornment and giving a nod to "special occasions" by dressing up a little. I've lived in and around NYC for years and I still dress up a bit when I see a show. I think it is what most "natives" do. (Enjoy the show!)

audra

We've encountered a logistics situation several times. Staying in lodging away from Broadway, we don't always have time to get back to the hotel for a quick change. This means we've often attended the theatre in the clothes we've worn all day, carrying purchases we've made, too.

I've noticed that many others seem to have the same situation, with the abundance of tote bags, shopping bags etc. clogging up the aisles. And while we often plan to cab it back to the hotel for a change of clothes, the pace of the city doesn't always allow it.

blep

I agree with Audra. This past week we attended Chicago and 42nd Street. The first night we had enough time to go back to our room and dress up. The second night we went in jeans due to lack of time to get back to the room. The weather was so nasty the 2nd night that it would've been uncomfortable in skirts and heels. We didn't see many people really dressed up either night.