It's Friday the 13th and what better way to commemorate this eventful day than to dive into thirteen of the most prevalent superstitions in the theater world? Without further ado, let's dive right into the psyche of the cast and crew with the fears that keep them on their toes backstage.
#1: The Scottish Play
What is it?
The Scottish Play refers to William Shakespeare's "Macbeth." The superstition revolves around the belief that quoting the play -- even mentioning it by name -- will lead to a terrible production run.
#2: The Ghost Light
What is it?
The Ghost Light is a simple light that stays on after all the other in the theater have turned off to keep late leaving staff from falling/tripping on their way out. However, the Ghost Light serves another, more superstitious purpose, warding off troublesome spirits.
#3: The Rule of 3
What is it?
Outside of the theater world, the number three typically denotes good fortune. Those on the other side of the curtain believe that having three lit candles onstage brings bad luck to the performers.
#4: Bad is Good During Dress Rehearsal
What is it?
Theater superstitions thrive on the paradoxical, which is why performers consider a bad final dress rehearsal to be an omen for a wonderful opening night.
#5: Break a Leg
What is it?
Break a leg: we've all heard it, but why? Again, those onstage run on paradoxes, with actors asking the worst so that they can get the best in return. The stage is the only place "good luck" is a negative thing to say.
#6: Never Whistle Onstage
What is it?
Back before we had headsets, whistling was used as a cue for stagehands to raise/lower sandbags and actors via rope. As an actor, whistling onstage could lead to a major mishap.
#7: Mirror, Mirror
What is it?
Breaking a mirror in or outside of the theater leads to 7 years of misfortune. However, if a mirror is broken in a theater, the misfortune stays within the theater and does not follow the individual.
#8: Color Coordinate... Or Else...
What is it?
If wearing a blue outfit onstage, always have silver lining; otherwise, you could find yourself dealing with a string of bad luck.
#9: Flowers Before, Never After the Show
What is it?
Flowers are the traditional gift for stage performers after opening night, but it is important that they receive this gift before, not after the show. Receiving flowers before a show is believed to be a precursor to a horrendous performance.
#10: Sometimes, it's OK to be Fake
What is it?
Some items are believed to bring misfortune to a production if the real product is used, such as: money, jewelry, and The Bible.
#11: The Stage isn't for Peacocking
What is it?
To stage performers, the eyes of peacock feathers represent the sinister "Evil Eye." If worn during a performance, this evil eye can bring about tragedies to both the stage and performers.
#12: Left is Best
What is it?
When exiting a dressing room, it is believed to be best practice to lead with your left foot. Ironically, theater guests are expected to enter the performance hall with their right foot forward.
#13: The Last Line
What is it?
Never, under any circumstances, say the last line of the show before opening day. You know what will happen if you do... bad luck, of course.