‘Don’t Touch Us’: Calamity Jane Actor Calls Out Audience Groping During Immersive Show

An actor in the musical hit Calamity Jane has issued an urgent public plea, calling out audiences for inappropriately touching and “groping” cast members during the show’s immersive production at the Sydney Opera House.

Kala Gare, who plays the role of Katie Brown, took to social media on Sunday to confirm that performers had been subjected to physical harassment for a third consecutive day.

The production transforms the Opera House’s Studio into the Golden Garter saloon, with the cast moving directly among the audience while singing beloved songs like My Secret Love and The Windy City.

However, this close proximity has led to unacceptable behavior, prompting Gare to speak out in an Instagram video:

“We’ve had too many times of people coming up and touching people inappropriately. We’re talking about people grabbing bums, touching ‘ta-tas’… It’s starting to get a little crazy with people feeling a little liberal. Please don’t do it for the safety of everybody. Come see the show. Have a great time – but don’t touch us.”

In response to the escalating safety concerns, the show’s management and the Opera House have emphasized their commitment to supporting the cast.

Management acknowledged that the vast majority of patrons are respectful but stated that performers are “empowered and encouraged to engage with the audience while making their own boundaries clear.” They confirmed that support is in place to deal with the few patrons whose behavior falls short of expectations.

The management expressed hope that the clear message from the cast will ensure that all focus can return to the “joyful and uplifting message of the production.”