Author Topic: PROPS: No Smoking in Denver  (Read 15973 times)

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smejs

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PROPS: No Smoking in Denver
« on: Nov 15, 2006, 10:34 pm »
In case the news hasn't made it across the country....

The new smoking ban in Denver includes theatres, regardless of whether they use tobacco or herbal.  And 3 area theatres went to court complaining about "freedom of speech" rights and failed.  (And they used a law firm that had previously successfully gotten an exclusion for theatres in Boulder, which is just north of Denver.)

Now personally, I hate smoking in public places.  But there are some shows you simply can't do without cigarettes.  And as the theatre companies tried to show the court, the kind where you blow the puff of talc out simply doesn't cut it...

Read about it http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5106658,00.html

I gotta say my favorite "reader comment", however, is where someone asked if it would be legal to smoke marijuana instead.  Because if it also hasn't made the national news, about a year ago they passed a law making it legal in the city of Denver to possess an ounce of marijuana if you're 21.  However, earlier this month an attempt to make it a state law, too, did not pass (and of course not federal), so police basically still say it's illegal.

Anyway, I'm strongly against smoking personally, and yet, I do think there should be an exception for theatre.  Just look at the few plays listed in the article as examples.  I think you can also do it in moderation for the show, and give the illusion you're smoking much more...Perhaps if you put wild disclaimers on every publicity notice, too, not just outside the theatre door you could adequately warn those who would be offended.

Erin
« Last Edit: Jun 09, 2009, 03:08 am by PSMKay »

ChaCha

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #1 on: Nov 16, 2006, 09:39 am »
carmen without a cigarette to be seen would be quite amusing.
ChaCha

sarahdk

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #2 on: Dec 06, 2006, 06:31 pm »
Yup... we have the same problem here in Seattle - no smoking. Period.

I did Seven year Itch a couple months ago, and the script calls for a lot of smoking but we were able to cut out some of it... We couldn't cut all of it, though, since there are some references to smoking in the show. The fake cigarettes looked so tacky and... fake.  :-\

BalletPSM

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #3 on: Dec 06, 2006, 07:12 pm »
Hmm...I wonder if this will soon extend to nudity on stage as the article talks about?  In the city where I live they just pased a "no full nudity" in strip clubs ordinance -- girls have to wear "pasties" and g-strings (at least) and must be on a platform, at least 6' above and away from the patrons.  It would be quite interesting if this started extending to theatres as well.  Try doing Equus without nudity. 
« Last Edit: Dec 10, 2006, 08:45 pm by BalletPSM »
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ChaCha

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #4 on: Dec 07, 2006, 11:26 pm »
ChaCha

oso_te_great

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #5 on: Dec 10, 2006, 03:25 am »
Yup... we have the same problem here in Seattle - no smoking. Period.

I did Seven year Itch a couple months ago, and the script calls for a lot of smoking but we were able to cut out some of it... We couldn't cut all of it, though, since there are some references to smoking in the show. The fake cigarettes looked so tacky and... fake.  :-\

Funny story concerning the fly guy at the Moore...

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Jessie_K

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #6 on: Dec 10, 2006, 02:12 pm »
Yup... we have the same problem here in Seattle - no smoking. Period.

I did Seven year Itch a couple months ago, and the script calls for a lot of smoking but we were able to cut out some of it... We couldn't cut all of it, though, since there are some references to smoking in the show. The fake cigarettes looked so tacky and... fake.  :-\

Fake cigarettes . . . not to mention, most actors hate the taste and feel of fake cigarettes and can accidentally inhale that nasty "puff" powder instead of puffing it out.

sarahdk

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #7 on: Dec 12, 2006, 09:32 am »
Yup... we have the same problem here in Seattle - no smoking. Period.

I did Seven year Itch a couple months ago, and the script calls for a lot of smoking but we were able to cut out some of it... We couldn't cut all of it, though, since there are some references to smoking in the show. The fake cigarettes looked so tacky and... fake.  :-\

Fake cigarettes . . . not to mention, most actors hate the taste and feel of fake cigarettes and can accidentally inhale that nasty "puff" powder instead of puffing it out.

Make 'em suffer for their art  ;)

Balletdork

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #8 on: Dec 13, 2006, 03:47 pm »
Wow! I'm all for not forcing people to smoke who don't smoke- but jeepers!  ???

thehayworth

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #9 on: Dec 14, 2006, 08:13 am »
What about shows in NY City that require Trans Fat?  What are we going to do now that it is banned, too?
"This time for sure."

ljh007

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #10 on: Jan 29, 2007, 08:54 am »
A new article on the subject from the NYTimes (1.28.7):

No Smoking in the Theater, Especially Onstage
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/theater/28pinc.html?ex=1170738000&en=e9298dbd272aece5&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Not a whole lot of new info or insight, but interesting nonetheless.

zayit shachor

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #11 on: Jan 29, 2007, 10:44 pm »
LJH beat me to posting that NY times article. One interesting thing that it pointed out is that smaller productions have gotten away with using cigarettes or herbal cigarettes anyway without repurcussion.

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #12 on: Jan 30, 2007, 04:03 pm »
New York's anti smoking laws apply only to commercial enterprises. Being a non-profit we are technically exempt. For health  reasons we do not allow smoking inside except during a performance in which the use of smoking material is crucial.
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Maribeth

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #13 on: Feb 24, 2008, 02:24 am »

smejs

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Re: No Smoking in Denver
« Reply #14 on: Feb 24, 2008, 02:27 am »
And meanwhile, next weekend in Denver, Hal Holbrook has to do Mark Twain Tonight WITHOUT a cigar.

Erin