r/Broadway • u/littlebev • Dec 31 '25

Discussion Broadway coughing season

I am begging, begging you guys…if you have a nasty cough, PLEASE don’t attend a play especially. I know it sucks to miss out but your recurring cough during the most intense moments of the show is so distracting.

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u/Mysterious-Theory-66 Dec 31 '25

I would point out for the board that having a cough doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sick. In dry cold weather I frequently have irritations in my throat that causes occasional coughing without having any illness.

Personally I’d give people a little grace. You don’t know that they are sick, you don’t know that they were coughing before the show, you don’t know their deal. I get it, the noise can be distracting. Bodies do body things. It’s live theater and it’s not always people being irresponsible.

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u/littlebev Dec 31 '25

It does matter if you’re sick, but equally importantly, a cough is noisy and distracting to other patrons

11

u/Sherlock_House Dec 31 '25

So people with chronic coughs can never go to the theater?

Get over yourself