What not to do at the stage door....

[justbecause]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 5:55pm

Anyone see Broadway secrets this week?

I love this one:

All the things NOT to do in regards to Stage Dooring. haha.

There are so many creepers out there.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:05pm

That is SO Val/DefyGravity777.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:06pm

"Do not follow the actors home after the performance"

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:12pm

Do not go to the stage door/see a show every week just because the girlfriend of your favorite actor is in the show.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:15pm

Finally, a non-crazy BroadwaySecret.

[doubleentendre]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:22pm

Here's another...don't attempt to joke about a performer's sex life at the stage door. With them.

I've seen it happen, and it's never pretty.


Also, maybe don't tell someone like (for example) Priscilla Lopez that you loved her in A Chorus Line when you're clearly 18 and did not see her in the show.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:28pm

I am guilty of listening to music ONLY by the actors I see at a show or the people I have met. I am starting to initiate other music from the "outside"

[legally_popular]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 6:50pm

Wow, I can't believe that people actually do things like that and don't realize that they're crossing so many lines. I feel relieved to know that I'm not crazy like that. I mean, I stage door most of the shows I see and have harmless crushes on hot actors, but geez... there's some scary people out there.

Edit - I think that secret hit the nail on the head of what NOT to do at the stage door in addition to: screaming at performers, hugging performers, proposing to performers, giving gifts or baking cookies or something like that. Updated On: 3/14/09 at 06:50 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 7:04pm

Regarding the Facebook comment - wouldn't said actor/actress have to accept your "friend" request in order for you to write on their wall in the first place?

[justbecause]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 7:20pm

Dottie - True, but a lot of actors/performers will accept most people... I think what crosses the line is the contant posting on the performers facebook when you're never getting anything in response.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 7:41pm

There are actors out there who will accept anyone on facebook. There are also actors out there who use their facebook as a way to keep in touch with both fans and friends. For example, when I saw the tour of A Chorus Line in Boston, Nikki Snelson signed for me and was nice enough to chat with me for a couple of min ( being that it was a tour I was maybe one out of two people there getting autographs) she was VERY friendly and asked if I was on facebook. When I told her yes, she said that I should add her.

I had spent the night in Boston and had time to kill before my train back to college. So, due to having nothing else to do I saw the show again. After the show I literally bumped into her as I was walking from the theatre to the train station. She remembered who I was and gave me a hug and asked why I hadn't added her on facebook yet. I explained that the place I was staying at didn't have Wifi but the station did so when I was killing time there before my train I added her on facebook.

Also, the only people I know who "Facebook stalk" Broadway performers are people that I know who are theatre obsessed and live in New York City. There is a privacy setting that only allows your profile to be seen by those in your network. The problem with doing that on the New York City network is that there are tons of people on it and that is basically similar to just letting anyone see your profile.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 7:41pm

There are actors out there who will accept anyone on facebook. There are also actors out there who use their facebook as a way to keep in touch with both fans and friends. For example, when I saw the tour of A Chorus Line in Boston, Nikki Snelson signed for me and was nice enough to chat with me for a couple of min ( being that it was a tour I was maybe one out of two people there getting autographs) she was VERY friendly and asked if I was on facebook. When I told her yes, she said that I should add her.

I had spent the night in Boston and had time to kill before my train back to college. So, due to having nothing else to do I saw the show again. After the show I literally bumped into her as I was walking from the theatre to the train station. She remembered who I was and gave me a hug and asked why I hadn't added her on facebook yet. I explained that the place I was staying at didn't have Wifi but the station did so when I was killing time there before my train I added her on facebook.

Also, the only people I know who "Facebook stalk" Broadway performers are people that I know who are theatre obsessed and live in New York City. There is a privacy setting that only allows your profile to be seen by those in your network. The problem with doing that on the New York City network is that there are tons of people on it and that is basically similar to just letting anyone see your profile.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 7:57pm

That story sounds familar, Winston.

[dg22894]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 8:43pm

"Do not push down the barricades"
"Do not argue with the body guards or theater personal"
My friend was obsessed with RENT and got even the signatures of every band member and stage managers and actors.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 11:04pm

If anyone wants to do a study on how not to act at the stage door should follow an Ace Young fan around. They were absolutely horrid. Expensive gifts for the cast, rude comments, mocking small children who just wanted their picture with Ace, etc.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 11:17pm

In regards to the Facebook thing. I know several actors who have their "fan" Facebook page and then a separate one that is hidden for the friends and family they actually want to keep in touch with like normal people. That allows the crazy super fans to feel that they have some sort of connection to the current objects of their desire, while the actor has a place where they don't have to wade through said super fans' postings to find things from the people they really want to interact with.

[artifact11]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 11:42am

So, to flip the question, what is acceptable behavior at the stage door, if someone has favorite actors/actresses (even the harmless crush)?

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 12:02pm

Just ask for a picture an aughtograph and say thanks.

[SingItOutLoud]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 12:04pm

Some More:

"Don't ask them to sign in numerous places on the front of your Playbill/Showbill."

"Don't ask them to sing something from another show that they were prevoiusly in."

"NEVER ask them how much $$$..." (I've seen it happen before...)

[doubleentendre]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 1:17pm

Artifact-

Polite conversation is always okay. Letting them know you enjoyed the show (without fangirl-ing), asking them to sign the playbill, staying thank you and moving on. It varies from person to person how much conversation is acceptable (for example, people like the [tos] cast and Christine Ebersole will talk your ear off, but people like Jayne Atkinson and Priscilla Lopez generally keep it short)

[pattilupuppy]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 1:27pm

People who are awkward at the stage door and cant handle themselves make me VERY uncomfortable

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 1:40pm

Don't refer to performers as characters they've played (eg. calling Matthew Broderick "Ferris Bueller;" he was less than thrilled when I saw someone do that).

[legally_popular]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 2:26pm

^Ha. Poor Matthew. Same thing with people at the Guys and Dolls stage door refering to Lauren as "Lorelai."

Just be polite and calm and don't take up too much of the actor's time. I can get excited when my favorite performer comes out, but I'm not like screaming "OMG!!!!!" and shouting their name and throwing myself at them. I'm actually very shy so even if I am "squee-ing" inside, I don't show it.

Also, don't push other people to try to get an autograph and/or move to the front. I've definitely seen that happen too often. Just be patient and calm.

[proptart101]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 2:29pm

Two important things to do at any stagedoor:

1) Be aware of whether or not you're blocking the sidewalk and/or exits.
Not all theaters set up barricades, or have ample sidewalk room. There are people other than fans in the B'way district, some of whom use the sidewalk too. Also, there are people other than actors in the theater who want to get out. Sometimes they need to rush out in order to catch their train/bus home, so give them room to get through.

2) If a particular actor that you really really want to see either doesn't come out (between shows on a 2 show day) or doesn't stop to chat/sign/ pose with you, just accept it.
They are under no obligation to spend time, though may choose to. Many actors like to stay inside during a 2 show day and just relax, especially if the weather is bad. The doorman will call up and let them know there are fans waiting, but they may not want to come out. Especially in cold weather, they have to be careful of their voices.
Also - actors are regular people and may need to rush out to meet up with people, make it to an appointment, or even just go home and walk/feed their dogs. If they don't want to stay and chat, don't take it personally. Life is complex and they may have other things they need/want to do that day.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 2:36pm

If an actor is playing a religious figure, do NOT:

- Ask them to bless your children (born or no)
- Start preaching and expect them to join in or agree
- Build shrines to them within your home
- Get "caught up by the Spirit" and faint in their presence
- Rifle through other people's things to get info about them
- Hire a private detective to find their house so you can put a car out there to watch their comings and goings until finally said performer has to call the cops to get you to move on

All of Ted Neeley (JCS)'s fans have done so, since the mid-Nineties or so.