A Steady Rain Poster? — Page 4

Amen NYadgal!

I go to shows for the "show", any autograph I may seek/get is gravy---nothing I pay for and it doesn't detract from seeing a performance. I still have a Playbill/ticket stub for the memory. Where is it written that any actor has to give a fan an autograph?

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What a bunch of self-entitled, spoiled brats.

Wah wah wah - I can't get his autograph because they are trying to raise some much needed funds for those in need. The hell with those who desperately need help - I want what I want.

I cannot wait for real life to smack some of you upside the face so that you can realize how insipid and spoiled you sound.

". . . the celebrity factor as opposed to the magic of live theater."

Not to put too fine a point on it, but they are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Rudy - is your sig a record of the shows you've seen this year? Did you see BLITHE SPIRIT seven times? If so, why?

Never once did I say that celebrity and theater magic are mutually exclusive. I do think strongly, though, that one does not aid the other.

I also did not say it was the fault of the actors. I don't think that it is. Rather, it is the fault of the inevitable atmosphere created by the audience.

This idea, by the way, isn't totally mine. A friend of mine who is such a longtime theater buff that he saw Barbra on Broadway in the 60s basically articulated it for me more or less as I am saying it. I haven't forgotten what he said because it makes sense to me. I find, very much so, that the atmosphere created by the audience makes a difference.

Q - Because Angela Lansbury is my hero, I loved the show and cast increasingly as I saw it each time, the first time I went was comped, I wanted to take several people with me to see it, and I scored front row for the final show.

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She is definitely an odd-man out, for sure. I think Angela's unquestioned Broadway track record does diversify the audience somewhat. To see the smiles on the faces of audience members (and I saw the show enough times that I could do that) during the more showy moments of her character (dancing, recitating incantations) was a particular joy for me.

I really like what Marian Seldes said during "Deuce" about the atmosphere Angela helps to bring out in an audience:

"It's an extremely thrilling experience to play this play with her not only because she is a great actress and a beautiful actress, but because she's so beloved that when the audience first sees her, when the lights come up, something happens in the theater like an explosion of love which is transmitted by applause and sort of whooping and sounds, and I interpret as it saying to her 'thank you, thank you for coming back to the theater,' and the fact that I am there too, I want to thank her..."

As far as "Blithe Spirit" is concerned, it is such a brilliant comedy with a justified track record that, even if it is dated, it is precision-tooled to charm audiences and pack laugh after laugh, and each time I went the audiences never changed in their response to it.

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Updated On: 11/3/09 at 05:02 PM

WAT, I'm so glad you were able to get one.

I know how much your collection means to you!

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WithoutATrace...how do you display all of your window cards?

"There are rumors that the no-autographs, no photos with the stars-ruling at the post-show stage door ends this coming weekend--but I'm assuming that the post-curtain BC/EFA auctions continue. Anyone in the know here?"

I've not heard that. Security was informed that it would be for the rest of the run. While the posters are limited in quantity, the Playbills are not, and as long as people are paying for signed autographs for charity, Jackman and Craig don't want them to feel cheated and will not sign at the stage door. And they are raising A LOT of money. BC/EFA is going to be very happy indeed.

"on a more practical note, donations are tax deductible..."

That's only for people who can deduct more than the standard deduction. Most people wouldn't see any tax benefits from purchasing the Playbill or windowcard.

Playbills are $100, and unless things have changed again, posters are $300 (or two for $500.)

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It looks like they have been raising a lot of money, not just for the signed items ( posters, playbills), the- meet- and- greet with photo ops...but the undershirt auctions have been a tremendous success! I heard that at the Actors Fund performance, Hugh and Daniel outdid themselves in auctioning some "rare" undershirts. Daniel had drawn a chest on his, obviously feminine ( I think) while Hugh borrowed someone's heart-shaped nipple tassles and attached them to his shirt. LOL!

And a lot of people have also been elated meeting the two actors at the stagedoor - hugs, snapping of photos, handshakes, etc ( check out Twitter).

Cape Twirl of Doom - any idea of what the campaign tally for ASR has reached to-date?

The poster is the same as the image on the Playbill.



Well, mid last week I was told they had already taken in over $450,000 and after this past weekend & special Actor's Fund performance, I heard that the tally is now supposed to be reaching near $600,000. It's simply astonishing. And there are four weeks left! As far as I know, they're still planning to continue the photos & signing policy.

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