Stage Door Etiquette
Stage Door Etiquette
#0Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:25amWhy do so many people include the performers’ stage door manners in their review, around here? The performers aren't obligated to come out, or sign anything. If they do, it's just gravy. I'm just amazed how many people let this affect their view of the show/performance.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#1re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:46am
Some people only go to the show to collect their signatures. It was like 'See What I Wanna See': a beautifully crafted musical that had its atmosphere ruined by a bunch of middle school girls in orange sweatpants and "I <3 Idina" shirts screaming every five seconds. And it's so sad because it ruins the experience for others.
If I have a wonderful experience at the stage door, I'm always sure to post it. Otherwise, I don't because it has NOTHING, I repeat - NOTHING - to do with the show itself.
A good story: Stage-doored for Maria Friedman last night and waited over an hour in the cold. Eventually Hector, the sweetest doorman alive at the Marquis, brought us inside to wait for her and she came down apologizing. I kept saying not to, that this is an honor, and she kept saying, "No, no, it's not, you and I are of the same breed." She talked to us for about a half an hour, signed her CD that I brought, my WIW poster and took a picture with me. When I told her that I'd seen her London but had missed her in WIW both times I came to see the show, she said, "Oh, you gorgeous boy, give me your number. I'm going to get you some tickets to the show so you can see me in it!" And sure enough, she took my number. An absolute doll.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#2re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 12:03pmThanks, Iluvtheatretrash, that's the kind of story I love to hear.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#3re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 12:05pm
Because if Adam Pascal didn't kiss me, then he didn't sing well. DUH, Bobby. I mean, why do you always ask these questions with such OBVIOUS answers? 
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#4re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 12:35pmMy pleasure, Dot. I'll be telling that story till I go to my grave, I'm sure.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
CDuffy5062
Understudy Joined: 6/18/04
#5re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:00pmMaria Friedman is one of the most gracious, charming and unpretentious ladies one could ever hope to meet. To say nothing of most talented.
#6re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:12pm
It is a well proven fact Em, that tongue kissing is linked to talent.
Why do you think I'm so talented? 
#7re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:35pm
"middle school girls in orange sweatpants and "I <3 Idina" shirts screaming every five seconds"
As a fan of that show, and of Idina as a performer, I don't know which is more distressing -
1. That you and I witnessed the same performance with the girls in the tracksuits and shirts - in which case - we had bad luck...
or the even more repulsive alternative...
2. That it happened more than one time.
Now what would you say if today I started over?
Without a thing but this taped together four leaf clover
And I'll pretend like everything is already alright
And I'll run toward the sun till the castle's out of sight
wickedrentq
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/6/04
#8re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:46pm
Well, not quite Em...given the dates...it means he acted well. He sang well on my night. 
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
Danielm
Broadway Star Joined: 3/17/05
#9re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:46pmThank you bobbybubby, I wonder at this too. I also wonder if a lot of these people who wait at the stage door realize just how bad their behavior can be at times. They often talk about how rude the performers were or how rude other people were but I'm sure they don't realize how nasty their own behavior can be. The performers do not owe it to people to come out and become best pals with everyone in line. And then the judgement if a performer isn't down on thier knees signing 20 autographs for everyone in line.
Yes, we do need a third vampire musical.--Little Sally, Gypsy of the Year 2005.
#10re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:50pmGREAT story, iluvtheatertrash! I know you'll cherish that one forever!
"You ask four guys, you get four different versions" ~ Tommy DeVito, Jersey Boys
#11re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 4:15pm
Theatergoers who are influenced by the stage door manners of actors really need to think about their priorities.
Updated On: 1/5/06 at 04:15 PM
#12re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 4:21pm
Iluvtheatertrash- That is a wonderful story. That was really sweet of Ms. Friedman.
I don't think that the performer's stage door manners should affect a person's voew of the show. Otherwise, I would've hated a few of the shows I saw. It really doesn't make a difference.
However, I don't see anything wrong about posting a good experience.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
#13re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 5:06pm
I'd never post a story about an actor being rude because I don't know what kind of day, week, month, whatever they've had. I don't want to judge people based on a few minutes of fairly empty conversation or a smile that may or may not have been "fake" or by the fact that they didn't stop to sign at all or signed quickly or WHATEVER.
If someone is nice to me, however, that's an entirely different story, I will tell the entire world.
Also I guess, living in Pittsburgh all my life and stagedooring and NY theatre in general being an entirely new experience for me, I EXPECT the actors to ignore me. I mean, if I had just worked my arse off onstage for three hours, and sometimes for the second time that day, I would certainly be a bit short with people at the stagedoor. This actually works for me because when a performer is nice to me, I feel extremely honored that they went out of their way for me and write them a letter telling them how amazing they are.
Btw, that is a GREAT story iluvtheatretrash.
PJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 5:41pm
That was a great story.
The rudest crowd I've ever seen at a stage door was at Spamalot. Some of those people needed to be escorted away from the barricades by the security guards.
The best crowd was at Wicked way back when. The show was still new and the door was crazy. But I never seemed to mind it and just laughed at how everyone was acting.
#15re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 7:12pm
Geez, Bobby, what sort of fangirl do you think I am? There was no tongue, sir!
For the record, since this is posted on a board, it was just a friendly kiss on the cheek, y'all.
#16re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 8:15pmI agree that the Spamalot stage door can be rude. I was waiting at the stage door for Spamalot (this was in December), directly across from the stage door. There were a group of ladies (and I use that term loosely) that were to my left, saying that so-and-so owes us---he wouldn't be where he was if it weren't for us (stuff like that). They would mock-cheer anytime someone came out the stage door, and then say, "oh it's nobody important". An older gentleman came out of the stage door, they did their stupid a** routine, and I quietly went over to the gentleman and got his autograph (they were mock-cheering Mike Nichols!) I wasn't going to enlighten them!
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
Ladyofthe Lake
Leading Actor Joined: 1/1/05
#17re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 9:14pm
Ugh, Magdalene, that's really repulsive. I certainly hope "so-and-so" didn't come out the stage door and give them the autographs to which they felt oh-so-entitled.
Too funny about them "mock-cheering" Mike Nichols! Idjits.
#18re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/5/06 at 10:13pmThose are the type of people who give legit stage doorers a bad name ; ;
#19re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/6/06 at 12:32amWhen I was at the Spamalot stage door, people were asking Hank Azaria to do Simpsons voices, which I thought was pretty rude in the way people were asking him (they were calling out to him to "do Moe/Apu/etc"). Amazingly, he actually humored them, but I was embarrassed on behalf of my fellow theatergoers who apparently think Hank Azaria is a trained seal.
"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"
#20re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/6/06 at 6:48am
I only include stage dooring in a reviw when it's a positive experience, and I try not to give negativity towards a performer who doesn't come out. Jenna Leigh Green was very nice, but that's only the sugar on top in the review since I though she was marvelous anywyas. I thought Kendra was great as well, and she snuck out the back door.
EDIT: Besides meeting the performers, what I really like doing is meeting the other people at the stage door with me, people with the same interests. I've met a few BWWers that way.
Bob Martin Online
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#21re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/6/06 at 7:18am
I only had a few moments with Maria Friedman at the Marquis stagedoor - but she looked me in the eye, flashed me a brilliant smile, and thanked me profusely for wishing her well. She is a grand lady, onstage and offstage!
PS - I wish I had greeted her at the stagedoor, too, when she was doing PASSION.
Jo
Updated On: 1/6/06 at 07:18 AM
#22re: Stage Door Etiquette
Posted: 1/6/06 at 9:22am
"Some people only go to the show to collect their signatures. It was like 'See What I Wanna See': a beautifully crafted musical that had its atmosphere ruined by a bunch of middle school girls in orange sweatpants and "I <3 Idina" shirts screaming every five seconds. And it's so sad because it ruins the experience for others. "
_werd_ that was sooo annoying.
I just wanted it cause its a good rememberance of the show. It did kind of suck for that show. Because all the other stars assumed everyone just wanted her autograph and so they rushed past us. Luckily i did get the male leads (his name escapes me though). The girl i was standing by went to the same High SChool he went to so when he was starting to walk away i shouted his name then asked kindly for his autograph :)
#23re: stage door etiquette
Posted: 1/6/06 at 9:29ami usually require sexual favors from performers at the stage door before i reward them with a decent review. i mean please, everyone knows how powerful the boards are, so if they want that good word of mouth, they're gonna have to earn it with more than some pretty notes!
r.i.p. marco, my guardian angel.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
#24re: stage door etiquette
Posted: 1/6/06 at 9:33am
"i usually require sexual favors from performers at the stage door before i reward them with a decent review. i mean please, everyone knows how powerful the boards are, so if they want that good word of mouth, they're gonna have to earn it with more than some pretty notes!"
--- hmmm i might have to try that sometime, as long as you promise to pay my bail :)
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