Theater Superstitions
What’s your favorite theater superstition? Ever wonder how the phrase “Break a Leg” originated?
Theater folk are a superstitious lot, and wishing an actor “good luck” is considered bad fortune, so the phrase “break a leg” is substituted.
Wikipedia has a good summary of various theories about the beginning of the theater phrase. Is its origin Greek, Roman, Yiddish? Is it a holdover from the days of vaudeville? Who knows?
In the meantime, I’ll just keep saying it as I look forward to another fun theatrical production with some very talented people. What other theater superstitions make you go, “Hmmm…”? Whistling backstage? Mentioning the Scottish play? Let us know.
Center Stage SPOTLIGHT 
The French always wished “love, stardust and merde” (merde being the equivalent to s–t!) .. their equivalent to “break a leg”…. ! 🙂
The Scottish play superstition always intrigued me. With all the sword play and pyrotechnics, I can imagine that Macbeth performances were prone to accidents and mayhaps, but I wonder how and why it was singled out above all other plays as being “unlucky” if mentioned.
Curious: who is answering under “Center Stage Playhouse”… is that you Nick????? 🙂
Lu, some things are best left a mystery. 🙂
Ditto what Nick said…or I said…Mystery is a great part of theater, is it not? 🙂