Can you wear character shoes OUTSIDE the theatre?

Question

I just got a pair of black 2in footlights to wear in my summer show. I've been wearing the m around the house to get used to them. Can I where them outside to get to rehersal or do I have to wear other shoes and change into my show shoes there?

Answer 1

Yes, you CAN wear them outside the theatre. The question here is SHOULD you. Up until this past March, I would have said no. However...

Towards the end of this past March I was onboard a sternwheeler called the Empress of the North as an Asst. Cruise Director and featured entertainer. One bright sunny Friday as my performing partner Melissa Fleming and I were rehearsing for the show that night, the Empress was run aground on a sandbar by an errant tug that had lost control of its load. Over the course of the next 8 hours we put up with television camera copters, 2 hours of bingo, a complete evacuation onto our sister boat the Queen of the West in the middle of the Columbia River, pulling an hour-long show out of our rears for these folks, and then unloading them all up the longest pier ramp system you have ever seen in your life, all the while dodging television camera crews...in a driving rain at night.

We left the boat with virtually nothing but what we were wearing...and I was wearing my character shoes for all of this.

The shoes got me through a full-out walking tour of Portland, OR the following day, a luncheon and a dinner, then 12 hours of flight travel to Orlando, FL where, some 80 hours after I first put them on, I was able to remove them.

They're fine. In fact, they now fit better than they ever have before.

Wear 'em.

Answer 2

Character House Shoes

Answer 3

I wear my character shoes for two things:
Acting
Ballroom dancing warm up shoes

Nothing else. They are supposed to be worn on certain types of clean floors only so they do not spread mud all over the stage/rehearsal floor. I admit, they are really comfortable. I have Capezios and they were really cheap. I'm considering buying a black pair just to wear outside and keeping my tan ones for the stage only. As a professional stage manager and having worked on a few Chicago productions in tech positions and an actor in numerous college productions, I would say "no" to wearing them outside your house and rehearsal space/theatre. It shows a lot of respect for the people (probably the SM or ASM) who keep the floor clean so you don't ruin it.

Answer 4

They're not really designed for outside wear, you could damage them, and at $60 a pop for them, that's not cheap! My daughter doesn't wear any of her dance shoes outside studios/theaters.

You can also get rubber put on the soles of the shoes, to make them less slippery. The dance store where my daughter gets her shoes does it for about $10 a pair.

Answer 5

Most character shoes are made very thinly. I would suggest not wearing them out on the street unless you want to run the risk of a stone (or worse) penetrating the sole.

They're made for show, not for durability! :o)

I would suggest you put your character shoes in a plastic grocery bag with handles and bring them along to change into later. In this way they will be less likely to be scuffed also.

Break a leg!

Answer 6

I just got a new pair of black footlights too, and I wore them out side once and it just scratched and tore up the bottoms. I don't really think you should wear them outside, but I think they are so comfy so its hard lol.
*Anise

Answer 7

its not really good to wear them if plan on using them in the theater again because not only do you ruin the shoes but u can also scratch up the stage or dance floor when your shoes get rough from being outside...

Answer 8

You could--but you will A. Look like a dork! and B. Ruin them for the theatre stage. Dance shoes are worn for dance, not street wear.

Answer 9

In New York many actors wear character shoes, as "regular shoes."

Answer 10

It isn't recommended to wear your shoes anywhere except around the theater just because you don't want to accidentally damage them.