As I entered a sold-out cinema for a “Wicked: Part One” preview event in Sydney this week, I had a terrifying thought: What if people started to sing along?
Moments into the film and just seconds into the first song, my worst fear was realized.
A group of musical theater kids, who fancied themselves more talented than the on-screen cast, which includes Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey, broke into song.
Look, I get it. It’s a premiere, you’re excited, and you want to show your friends that you know all the words. Cool.
I, too, know all the words, hence why I’m at a “Wicked” premiere.
I also want to nail that “Defying Gravity” riff and sing both parts of “Popular” to show off my impressive vocal range.
But I have to remind myself that I was only an understudy in my school’s Year 11 musical, Pippin, and am precisely four letters short of becoming an EGOT winner.
This is communal viewing – not your home or shower.
We are all here to see the movie, not to listen to your slightly off-key rendition of “Dancing Through Life” while you try to fulfill your failed dreams of making it to Broadway.
After a few exaggerated sighs and one or two side-eyes, they eventually got the message and stopped singing.
But it made me wonder: Should singing be allowed in cinemas, especially during musicals?
The cinema etiquette debate
I went online to see if others shared my annoyance, and I found countless TikToks discussing the same issue.
One user, @nadismediacorner, said, “Don’t leave your movie theatre etiquette at home. I just know people are going to be singing along, but I refuse to be interrupted.”
Another user, @sing_with_jake, remarked, “When people start singing during the “Wicked” movie … don’t even try.”
“I don’t get people who want to hear themselves over the performances,” commented yet another user.
“Theatre and movie etiquette are basically: sit down, be quiet, and enjoy the show. Don’t sing during the movie, because you wouldn’t sing if you were seeing the play,” said someone else.
Others called the singing “tactless” and “lacking self-awareness.”
Some then shared what they would do if they heard someone engaging in this “entitled” behavior.
“I will dob on you to the ushers,” one person declared. “Seriously, save it for karaoke night!”
Another said they would “kick” you out of the theatre if they heard you singing along, while others said they wouldn’t hesitate to tell offenders off.
“I would boo them so hard,” one claimed.
“I’m debating bringing the spray bottle I use when my cat’s being naughty along with me tonight for this reason,” added another user.
A few suggested that people should just “mouth” the lyrics or tap along if they want to get into it.
Then some self-confessed theatre kids entered the chat.
@jeami.says.so stated, “I’m going to try not to ruin the premiere by singing,” but also suggested, “It really should be a singalong style.”
Others asked whether it was acceptable to sing as long as they weren’t “being too loud” and used a “low, quiet voice.”
One brave soul stated, “Watch me sing! I don’t care.”
“Just let people have fun,” wrote another user.
The debate raged on over on the “Wicked” Reddit forum.
“Hello, fellow Ozians!” a post to the group read. “The time has finally come, but before we all rush off to our screenings, I just want to throw out a friendly PSA: While singalong screenings are a blast, during regular showings, let’s keep our vocal talents in check.
“Remember, there are people in the theatre who’ve waited decades for this film and just want to experience the magic without unplanned background vocals.”
The cast weighs into the discussion
The debate has even prompted responses from Grande and Erivo themselves.
In an interview with Stay Tuned NBC, Grande admitted singing along was “ tempting,” while Erivo said she “understands” it.
“I say, if you come the first time and you sing, sing through. But come a second time and let us sing to you,” Erivo continued.
“Yeah, and if someone throws popcorn at you or their phone or something, maybe stop,” Grande joked, before adding, “I’m kidding.”
When the interview host asked if that meant they gave permission for people to sing along, they replied, “Yeah, we support whatever makes them happy.”
Cinema bans singing along
One cinema chain in the US has even banned singing.
Ahead of the new movie musical’s release on Friday, November 22, the largest movie theatre chain in the country, AMC Theaters, began playing a 30-second advisory featuring scenes from Wicked.
The reminder reinforced AMC’s “silence is golden” message that plays before every movie.
The voiceover then jokingly says, “No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing.”
AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan told The Indianapolis Star that the chain “has a longstanding policy that prohibits disruptive behavior” and that the “Wicked” screening was no exception.
Recognizing the fan passion surrounding the musical, Club Broadway – an organization that hosts musical theatre events across the country – launched two private movie screenings in Sydney and Melbourne this weekend.
Speaking to news.com.au, creator and MC of Club Broadway DJ Dan Murphy said, “We 100 percent discourage singing along at our screenings – as nobody has seen the movie yet! How can we sing along to new versions of something we haven’t seen?”
He acknowledged that it might sound funny as the host of the country’s biggest singalong party for musical theatre – but he “absolutely cannot stand when people decide to sing along at a show or movie when they’re in the audience”.
“We all paid a lot of money to see the professionals sing. Please, can it, Karen!” he chuckled.
For fans who just want to belt it out, he notes, “We’re hosting Club Broadway afterparties for our screenings, and that’s where all our guests can sing their hearts out on the dance floor!”
