Putting on a play takes a lot of hard work by many talented people. In addition to all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into producing a play a large dose of good luck helps. The following is a list of the ten most common superstitions to be aware of when staging a play.

1. The Scottish Play:

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is cursed. It is so cursed that even mentioning the play by name can bring misfortune. Most performers call it “The Scottish Play,” in reference to its setting. This particular superstition is so prevalent that most people don’t think twice about observing it. Shakespeare may as well have named his play “The Scottish Play” in the first place and saved us all the bother.

2. Quoting from “The Scottish Play:”

In addition to the name of the play being verboten, quoting lines out of context is bad luck. Years ago there was a commercial that used some of the queen’s speech to tell you what their soap could do. It made me cringe every time.

3. Break A Leg:

As a rule, a positive expression of well wishing is not a good idea before the show. Instead most people will say, “Break a leg” or “Merde.” Much like saying “Nothing can go wrong now.” Just before your wedding. It’s just not a good idea to temp fate. We all know that life loves irony.

4. Whistling:

Whistling backstage, or in the dressing rooms, is in bad form. In addition to being bad luck, actors have a set routine that they need to adhere to before going out on stage. Many times that routine includes quiet contemplation, not suddenly having your off key version of “It’s a small world” running through their brain.

5. Peacock Feathers:

Sets should never be dressed with Peacock Feathers. These colorful feathers bring with them a lot of bad luck. In addition to being unlucky, several angry peacocks are left unable to get a date.

6. Bad Dress equals Good Opening:

This is a phrase you’ll hear backstage after most final dress rehearsals. If the audience does not respond as hoped, or there are problems during the show all we have left is the hope that this mantra proves true.

7. The Second Show Blues:

With the pressure off, after opening night has come and gone, sometimes people relax the next day and things get sloppy. I’m sure the opening night party has nothing to do with it.

8. Saying the last line of the play without an audience present:

Between the director, assistant director, stage managers, and understudies there is almost always an audience present. From the first day of rehearsal somebody is always watching the actors perform so this one rarely comes up.

9. Curtain Call staging:

The curtain call should not be staged before the first dress rehearsal. Superstitions notwithstanding, curtain calls tend to be the last thing on the “need to do list.”

10. Ghost light

Yes, theaters are haunted; and apparently by ghosts who are afraid of the dark. The last thing to happen is the setting of the ghost light. This is a single bulb on a metal post that sits onstage. This nightlight for the spirits has the added benefit of letting the living find the light switch the next day.