‘Wicked’ is a hit on screen. Not everyone wants to hear you sing it.

The Washington Post featured Shira Gabriel in an article about the film “Wicked,” and how fans are being asked not to sing during the showing. Gabriel, who studies crowd participation, said that humans connect through singing together. The singing “Wicked” fans are building a shared culture in a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” kind of way by interacting with the movie, Gabriel said. Even though they’re strangers, they can create a “collective effervescence,” the feeling of energy and harmony people enjoy when they share a purpose or experience. “That’s really special,” Gabriel said.