And I’ve heard some incredible, touching stories that could make a Romanian weightlifter cry.

And then I’ve heard stories like this one:

A theater lover was seeing a revival of The King and I many, many years ago.  And . . . well . . . I think I should just let him tell the story in his own words:

Nothing pisses me off more than people who sing along with overtures or songs on stage. Immediately upon the down beat of the overture this gravel-voiced man behind me starts to hum loudly.  I gave him a quick “shh” and turned back to my seat.  He continued a few beats later and I shushed him again.  On his third try I turned to face him and in a stage whisper said, “Will you please stop that awful singing?”

It was then that I realized I had told Richard Rodgers to shut up.

To his credit he apologized.

You know what my favorite part of that story is?  It wasn’t that my new friend taught Dick some good theater-going habits.  It wasn’t that even the Maestro of Musicals knew he was in the wrong!  It was that Richard Rodgers hummed along to his own tunes.  I mean, if the composer gets the songs stuck in his head, you’re on to something!