theater’s prohibited items includes clothing

Clothing is part of the laundry list of items not allowed at the iconic Beacon Theatre.

The famed music and comedy venue on Broadway between 74th and 75th Streets on the Upper West Side recently enshrined a list of more than 20 items it now forbids — including cowbells, hoverboards, bats, clubs — and “clothing.”

“Clothing? I hope they have plastic covers for the seats,” comedian Chris Distefano, who performed a sold-out show at the Beacon in 2022, told The Post.

“I have shows this weekend at Radio City Music Hall and the Theater at Madison Square Garden. We are allowing clothes and cowbells.”

He added: “That looks like a sign that should be outside Rikers Island.”

The Post contacted Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp, which owns the Beacon, and a spokesperson there thanked us for bringing it to their attention, saying they will now be fixing the sign.
Stefano Giovannini

Upper West Sider Mark Scioscia was also taken aback by the clothing ban at the event spot and — aside from headliners like Chelsea Handler and Trevor Noah — its lackluster upcoming acts.

“I was surprised to see clothes on the list, but looking at the September/October event lineup I could see how they’d need to spice things up,” he said.

A spokesperson for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., which owns the Beacon, thanked The Post for bringing it to their attention and said they will be fixing the sign.


chris distefano at beacon theatre
“Clothing? I hope they have plastic covers for the seats,” said comedian Chris Distefano, who performed at the Beacon last year.
Mike Lavin

“Well that was clearly a mistake, clothing is definitely permitted,” the rep said.

MSG did note that underneath the word “clothing” — albeit in tiny letters — the sign explains that “garments or signs displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization towards any person(s)” are the ones prohibited.

The extensive list — plastered on a red sign displayed at both the front and back entrances — also includes drones, poles and fireworks.


Beacon Theatre
The crowd waiting to get inside British comedian Eddie Izzard’s show.
Stefano Giovannini

“Only things I see missing are laser pointers and fake tickets,” said Long Island resident Jerry McCabe, who has been to dozens of shows there since 1976.

Comedian Elyse DeLucci also found the humor in the Draconian rules at the 2,600-seat theater, which was built in 1929 as a movie palace and designated a Big Apple landmark in 1979.

“When clothes are prohibited, you know times have changed,” she said. “No cowbells, poles and frisbees? Guess I can’t attend. What’s next? No people?”


beacon theatre
The iconic 2,600-seat theater was designated a landmark in 1979.
Stefano Giovannini

Sebastian Villamizar
Bushwick resident Sebastian Villamizar was surprised to see the long list of prohibited items.
Stefano Giovannini

Bushwick resident Sebastian Villamizar, who was waiting to go inside British comedian Eddie Izzard’s show on Sept. 21, was unaware of the sign.

“I’m learning about it just now. This is very detailed and intense,” he said. “I don’t know what happened before so that they had to put this outside.”

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