Usher

An usher is a person who escorts people to their seats in venues such as theatres, cinemas, churches, and other public events. Ushers may be volunteers or staff employed by the venue. In theatres and cinemas, they typically check tickets, distribute programs, and guide patrons to available seats, often assisting with accessibility seating and maintaining orderly movement during entry and intermissions. In religious settings, ushers may welcome worshippers and direct them to seating.

Beyond seating duties, ushers may answer questions, provide event information, guide attendees to facilities such as restrooms, and help manage crowds to ensure safety. They may coordinate with house managers or security personnel to respond to disruptions, medical incidents, or evacuations, and they assist with crowd flow during peak periods or emergencies.

The term usher can also be used as a verb in phrases such as usher in, meaning to mark the start or introduction of something or to guide into a new state or place. The role has historical roots in ceremonial and processional settings and remains common in venues that serve the public. In modern usage, the title is typically gender-neutral, with terms like theatre usher, and historically some positions were titled usherette for women.