It's definitely a good thing! It makes sense if people attending can't smoke in the theatre, then those on the stage should not be able to smoke either. They can certainly add some special effects with lighting and mist, they do not need cigarette smoke to entertain people. If a cigarette, pipe, or cigar is used as a prop, then they do not need to be lit.

Cigarette smoking on stage should be banned everywhere. Many places are banning smoking, so it's only fair for plays to be affected as well. The actors can easily just use an unlit cigarette and it will have the same effect.

To be honest with you, I'm surprised this wasn't already law! I don't think it's censoring art at all - not even close. They make wonderful digital cigarettes these days that glow, emit vapor (looks just like smoke) and everything! Absolutely no one in the audience would even know the difference.

Hey...wait a minute, do you know many people try to follow style,habit,dress etc of their celebrity.So if an famous stage actor smokes on to the stage,I am sure,It will take a negative effect.

I am a stage actor,so I love it as a great art(stage acting), so why I will give chance talk negative speech about it? I think they who like to act onto stage should try to keep it fresh.

Stage acting is not only for just entertainment but also a strong media which can raise voice against any wrong or disorder of our society,country,culture etc.In Bangladesh(my motherland) cigarettes are banded in open place,so it is illegal also.But I wanna say that just not for law,please think this matter from your mind that you doing a debatable matter.


I think if it is not really necessary to show smoking on stage directly,it also can be avoided by strategy, and it will depend on director's thinking ability.Look at a example,when we(S.actor)need to show a scene like birth of son or rape,are we show is directly?No,we show it but with some strategy and indirectly,This is really an excellent art but I can't think show smoking directly is a art.It will be a great joke if anyone says that we need show nudity to show birth of a son.

Thanks
@safi

cigarette smoking is dangerous to health. Also this can KILL YOU.

I am surprised to hear that smoking on stage in Lowell was not already illegal. I would be for this ban and I think it is a good idea as smoking is of great concern to the overall public health. Many other forms of expression are illegal to do even on stage and are not considered infringements of free expression. Just think what chaos would erupt on stage if the precedent is set that all forms of dangerous activity would be legal is performed on stage as a part of a actors performance.

I live in NH and here it is illegal to smoke just about anywhere inside except a few cigar shop exceptions. I had assumed that the laws were the same in Massachusetts with regards to where a person can smoke in public. A theater is a public place and although I am for free expression and the inability of the government to impose restrictions on it the laws must be enforced equally in order to keep order.

Am I missing something?

As I understand the smoking laws in Massachusetts people are not allowed to smoke anywhere inside. I could not see an exception being made for stage actors they after all must work along side other people who might not agree with them smoking and this has been the basis of the legislation impairing the smokers ability to smoke in public places, along with general public health concerns.

On the map below the states indicated in white have banned smoking in all public places. What "public place" means varies by state.

It should only be allowed if it is a play demonstrating the ill effects of smoking. That is if the actor is portraying someone with lung cancer or some other associated disease otherwise my answer is NO.

I don't have anything to add I just wanted to add my 2 cents and say...I'm surprised it isn't already. It's a public place it should be banned.

This is censoring art.

In many places there are laws banning smoking in indoor public places. Outdoor stages should not have this limitation imposed. Should it be illegal for an actor to smoke where the public are legally able to smoke? I say no!

Imagine a historic play where smoking is an integral part of the story. Should the play be banned? I say no. Yes, I do agree that actors should be informed prior to being involved in a theaterical production which includes smoking.

There should not be a seperate law which is covered by existing laws. Any existing law permitting smoking on stage in an otherwise smokefree enfirenment should be ammended.

Note: I have never smoked.