Sing or keep quiet? Musicals raise a question for cinema staff and moviegoers

‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, said that singing alone in cinemas is ‘wonderful’ - (AP)

As movie theaters worked to entice viewers back into seats after COVID-19 lockdowns and labor strikes, the industry marketed blockbuster films like " Wicked ” and the dueling releases of “ Barbie ” and “ Oppenheimer ” as no less than cultural events.

But when certain movies become “events” unto themselves, sometimes different behavior accompanies them.