I just got back from spending 4 days in NYC. Great trip, with the exception of Spider Man, which was a disappointment, I saw some great shows including John Gabriel Borkman at BAM, American Idiot, Phantom of the Opera, and La Cage Aux Folles. I was able to meet the cast at all the shows except Spider Man and all were very cool about signing, including Alan Rickman at Borkman. I waited at the stage door of Phantom and got to greet most of the cast including the terrific Raoul Sean MacLaughlin and Sara Jean Ford who is a fantastic Christine. Unfortunately that night Hugh Panaro (The Phantom) did not exit through the back stage door where I was with my friends, so we were not able to get his autograph. For those who have experience with this, if I mail my signed playbill to the Majestic theatre and enclose a postage paid return envelope with a note asking Hugh to sign it would I be successful? I had never even thought about doing that before but someone who was there at the stage door said I should.
Or you don't have to risk it and you just just request a playbill signed by the leads to either the stage managers or the company. Then if they don't reply, you haven't lost anything (except the postage on both the mail and the SASE).
There is a risk in sending your Playbill. I sent a partially signed Playbill to someone once and never got it back. I think it makes sense to ask for a new signed Playbill as had been suggested before. And you may cross paths with Hugh Panaro again in the future and be able to get his signature eventually in person.
"What was the name of that cheese that I like?"
"you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start"
"well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"