A Steady Rain Stage Door Question

[bundy5000]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:13pm

Is it still near impossible to get an autograph even if you see the performance that day?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:22pm

Yes. Much better to get there with playbill in hand a day you did not see the show. I did it this afternoon and was successful. Both men were very nice and signed for the large crowd. Hugh Jackman even signed my Boy From Oz CD cover. Such a nice man.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 4:24am

Talked to the security guard...they plan to do nothing about the crowds amassing before the current show is over. I had heard SD was nuts...but it was ridiculous with people that didn't see the show. I was among the first people OUT of the theater and the SD must have already had over a hundred people there. Nuts.

At Equus, they had two lines....and if you couldn't produce a ticket to THAT performance you had to stand behind one barricade, and with a tix you were behind a different one. It was up to the actors individually whether or not to "visit" the "fan crowd".

[legally_popular]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 5:43am

^Yeah, they did that with All My Sons too. I liked it that way.

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 6:27am

As one who has had a viewing of next to normal disturbed and who has friends who have had viewings of Superior Donuts disturbed by the loud screaming at that stage door, it would be nice if they would do something about the absurd crowds.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 7:14am

For no, if you are seeing the show there's no chance of getting anything signed after that performance. I was in the rear mezz rush seats thursday and was one of the first people out of the theatre but I was far far in the back. I came back the next day and got pictures and signatures from both.
Updated On: 9/21/09 at 07:14 AM

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 8:18am

Its very anoyying how much the fans scream I agree with Trombonist.

During a very emotional scene towards the end of Superior Donuts we heard a very audible scream coming from outside the theater (I am pretty sure we all know what it was for).

That completly took me out of the moment.

But I really wish they would set up 2 barricades for ticket holders and just fans. Its not really all that fair because some people brought a ticket just for the reason of meeting Hugh and Daniel. And its almost impossible to do that with 100+ fans before the show even ends.

[GimmeABreak2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 10:16am

Wow, that's a shame to hear. I thought for sure they'd take the 'Equus' approach. I really admired how they set that up last year. When curtain call came, my friend and I ducked out and were quickly allowed into a fenced off square only for ticket holders. Even then, Radcliffe still went around to everyone else anyhow.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:08pm

Lucky! I was in the ticket-holders pen for EQUUS and I still didn't get an autograph.

They have a similar setup for HAMLET, and this time I managed to get an autograph. Very surprised to hear they aren't doing that at A STEADY RAIN.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:12pm

I agree about the screaming.

When I saw AUGUST about a year ago, the screaming outside of ALL MY SONS was ridiculous. It was even worse the other night at SUPERIOR DONUTS. The cheering is ok but long periods of screaming for about twenty minutes is just insane.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:20pm

What would be a conservative time to stage door a 3:00pm show?

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:22pm

So you can hear people screaming out in the streets from other theaters around the Schoenfeld? Please tell me it doesn't last for the last hour of Next to Normal, or I might be a bit irritated next Sunday. I get that all sound from the street can't be blocked out, but crowds screaming should be a crime outside of theaters.

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:40pm

It may not be the entire last hour, but it's present for a good portion of the second act. Even worse than the crowds screaming, yesterday I was in the area and walked by the Booth to see the new awning and found groups of people sitting on the steps directly in front of the doors talking loudly while the matinee was going on. I politely let them know that a show was going on feet behind them, but I don't think it did any good. I guess it was at the point where the majority of the ushers are gone, or else nobody inside on the house staff cared a bit. Or maybe they couldn't distinguish these men from the crowds waiting for Hugh and Daniel. I hate to think they have resolved themselves to making the audience live with this for 12 weeks. I guess Monday night or Sunday night when A Steady Rain isn't playing would be the best times to go for now.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 1:19pm

Well, hopefully it won't be too bad. As long as I can enjoy the show, that's all that matters. I wonder if noise and crowds will be a bigger nightmare on Sunday though because of the Flea Market. Because on 44th St., you have Jude Law too.

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 1:39pm

I have a feeling it will be bad all around noise-wise at the matinee on Sunday because the poor Booth is all but surrounded by the flea market stuff. Not the day or time I would have picked. If I had a choice, I'd go for the evening show on Sunday. The mess should be gone by then. Of course the further you are into the theater, the less the outside noise.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 1:40pm

Bundy, on saturday night there were people who were visibly waiting for autographs by 8:15. Sad.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 2:14pm

yes it is, Maybe I'll just write to the stage door instead to get the autographs.

[Jube]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:26pm

This is incredibly depressing!
I make a special trip (from Canada...) and fork out money for ticketsand then NOT get first crack at an autograph?

That just bites! I totally assumed that security would have a logical process for this. So I'll likely resort to going another night for an autograph and being there at 8:15, ruining someone else's chances...

Good grief!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:43pm

I know I'm going to get pilloried for this, but for the little that it's worth: all you frustrated autograph seekers, it's simply not worth the time and energy you're expending. Yes, its fun to get an autograph when the occasion allows, but unless you intend to sell them on eBay or whatever, of what possible use could they be to you? A momento of an enjoyable or rewarding night in the theatre, okay. But to make it an overwhelming obsession in your lives -- that's another matter. NO ONE, ten years from now, is going to care if you have the autograph or not, unless it's William Shakespeare's, Jesus or other sanctified people. Take a breath and savor the times that you are lucky enough to be part of the wonderful experience of seeing a Broadway show. That is reward enough in itself, IMO and I've been going to Broadway since 1955.

Updated On: 9/23/09 at 10:43 PM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:14am

I can't speak for anyone else, but the reason I like stagedooring is because it is an opportunity to personally thank the actor for their work and let them know how much it was appreciated. If they are a star, it's even better because it's an opportunity to thank them for their entire body of work, an opportunity I might not get again.

The autograph is just a neat souvenir from that moment, something I can look at for years and remember the experience.

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 01:14 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:20am

Yes love, but one thing is getting an autograph and another is to fight an angry mob to get a .0005 second moment with an overwhelmed performer that will half scribble whatever he can on your playbill.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 5:27am

I'm with you Ed. I don't get the whole SD experience. The only reason I did so for a certain show is that I had been given the opportunity to meet (away from SD) and become acquainted with a few actors from the same cast and had been ASKED to stop by after the next show.

When I got to go backstage at Hair, it was all very coincidental. If the invite hadn't been made....I would not have stayed for the SD at all. I really don't see the big deal. I don't begrudge anyone for feeling otherwise, I just don't get it.

[Leia947]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 9:26am

I like stage-dooring. I think it's fun, and autographs and photos gives you a nice way to remember the event beyond memories of the show. I'm not a "Oooh, sign this, so I can sell it on Ebay" type person. I keep a scrapbook/box of all my Playbills and photos. That being said, I don't think I've ever had a worse stage door experience than at "A Steady Rain". Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig were delightful. The crowd? Not so much. Pushing and shoving and being stepped on. Every time the door opened you got shoved around. The one cop that was there wasn't enough. I left. No signature is worth getting beat up for. If you want to stage door for this, bring some padding and a bat.