Most cameras will have a hard time unless you're right up front. The lenses on most point-and-shoot cameras are simply too small to catch enough light without a flash. It certainly couldn't hurt to try, but I'd try it with a digital if you've got one in case they don't come out. That way, you can just delete them and not waste film.
Then again, there were TONS of people using flash photography in our show and I don't really remember seeing anybody tell them to stop or escort them out. Even with flash though, shots in dark rooms from far off usually don't come out that well on most cameras.