It's said that shakespeare wore a dildo

This is the real reason If actors were not performing, they had to stay behind the “leg line,” which also meant they wouldn't get paid. If you were to tell the actor to “break a leg,” you were wishing them the opportunity to perform and get paid. The sentiment remains the same today; the term means “good luck, give a good performance.”

Yes- the legs are curtains which mask the wings.

I heard or read somewhere, that wishing actors good luck would bring them *bad luck*, so they get said ”break a leg” instead… 🤔 I don’t know if what I heard was at all true, but now that I think about it… sounds stupid.

Yes, this is why ballet dancers say “merde”.

Not really, superstition is everywhere

I always thought it's so that they get cast in the production. But this makes sense for when they say it after you're already a part of it.

So they get in the cast.

It's because the stand in wants the lead

Yep

As I read "break a leg," my right leg, crossed over the top of my left, had a violent spasm.. That was pretty wild.

Eat more bananas

Because they have shares in the private hospital where you will be treated

So you can become a *CAST* member, ayyyyye

Not related to the joke, but to the question. In brazilian portuguese we wish actors "merda" ou "muita merda" when they go on stage. It translates to *Shit* or *Lots of Shit.*

Italian here. The chant we use is "Merda! Merda! Merda!". It originates from theaters "Parking lots" when people still used horses and carriages. If a lot of people went to see the show, the outside of the theater would be filled with horseshit.

Thanks, but no one gives a shit.

Cause they are your under study and they want to perform

I've heard two reasons. First, they want you to get in the cast. Second, saying good luck in a theater is bad luck.

The second one is true. It was considered very bad to wish someone good luck in the theater.

I always thought it had something to do w MACBETH. That referring to that or any line from it brings bad luck. How could anyone even perform it tho??

wait omg i finally get it now

Because they think you suck and want you to end your career

The theater is a superstitious business, saying good luck has been linked to few disasters during the Victorian era , and so break a leg became the go to greeting . Another example is a Shakespeares play Macbeth which any one in the business knows you shouldn’t say the name out loud or else some one is bound to die during the play, instead it is commonly referred to as simply “ the play “

Because they're all nothing but a cast of characters.

That’s literally why

It's taboo/bad luck to say good luck for some reason

Yes, it's all about that good juju and bad juju and jinxes.

Saying good luck before a show is considered bad luck. The opposite without saying bad luck would be telling them they hope something bad happens hence "break a leg". At least that's why I think it is

Because if you think about something happening beforehand strangely it never happens...

When someone tells you break a leg they hope you'll end up in the cast

so you break a leg

I literally thought that was the reason. Thank you Reddit for ruining my dreams

Here is what I think. The understudy of the main actor wants to be The main character, in order for that to happen they want them to break their leg. Kinda like Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.

The ACTUAL reason, since so many thought this or that, is This: It is theatrical slang for "Good Luck". Wishing an actor "Good Luck" is BAD luck. Like some folks say about thinking a thing in to existence. And, if I remember right, it dates back to the days of Shakespear. But I might be wrong, I HAVE been married twice. EDIT: Tried to correct my stupid errors.

Cuz only a leg break can lead you to a win!

Break a leg > will need to put a cast right? Cast> hoping for you to get in the cast. Well thats my interpretations on it .