Exactly, it's a nice thing for him to do but he doesn't have to. And yes they don't show GG on Sat or Sunday so he could go sign after those shows, but it's obvious he's had a lot of friends at shows and is enjoying going out with them after. I'd hate to think of it as the fangirls ruining it vs. him just enjoying life, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was them...
My fiance and I were at Memphis last night. I must say, waiting around in Shubert Alley for the doors to open is entertaining and scary at the same time. The fangirls were out in full force after lotto was called- disturbing conversations, accosting the standbys and all.
I've seen this show in all three of its run- several times per run, but there is a line and I think it is being crossed daily.
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
This is a serious question and not a snarky one. Why would Aaron's brother be waiting at the stage door if he is not coming out that way? If his brother was trying to surprise him, that totally failed. If his brother wanted to meet the cast, wouldn't Aaron just introduce them backstage? It just sounds odd to me.
And while many actors who have a conflict take a leave of absence (Paul Schoeffler in Rock of Ages is doing that right now, for example), there are examples of performers signing up to do less than 8 performances a week for whatever reason (Victoria Clark in Piazza and Charlotte D'Amboise in A Chorus Line for their contract extensions, for example).
"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"
I've seen a lot of friends/family of cast members waiting at the stage door along with the fans because they have to wait to be taken backstage. I don't know the particulars but it isn't out of the ordinary that his brother was waiting there for him.
"I did notice Aaron visibly rolling his eyes at the shrieking fangirls after a Saturday matinee a few weeks ago. Not that I blame him; I was silently cursing them myself."
Oh dear. shrieking fangirls? Ugh they really need to get over themselves. Unfortunately there isn't a way to stop them. Unless you take away what's feeding their obsession, an it's the interaction at stage door. Aaron can stop coming out for as long as he wants, serves the fangirls right! Maybe they'll stop.
I get that it's exciting, I really, sincerely do. But I don't understand why people can't just be civil. Do they really think these people enjoy being shrieked at?
I just want to say, I love this thread, mostly because after my experience at the Flea Market, when I stopped by the next to normal table and some girl nearly knocked me to the floor to buy a pair of Alice Ripley's jeans (when she already had at least 5 other items in her hand and I was in no way desirous of said jeans, so they were perfectly safe to pick up like a normal person) I am not at all surprised to hear about the stage door conduct of those people. I'd probably run away if I were in that cast.
And while many actors who have a conflict take a leave of absence (Paul Schoeffler in Rock of Ages is doing that right now, for example), there are examples of performers signing up to do less than 8 performances a week for whatever reason (Victoria Clark in Piazza and Charlotte D'Amboise in A Chorus Line for their contract extensions, for example).
That may be true that some performers are contracted for 6-show weeks, but Aaron's return, when announced, was never accompanied by the stipulation that he would only be doing 6 performances a week. Additionally, when a performer is contracted for 6 performances a week, they generally miss the same 2 performances each week. Aaron has been calling out random days, with no pattern. Additionally, Charlotte D'Amboise and Victoria Clark didn't have 6-show contracts because they had "conflicts". It was a combination of them performing very physically demanding roles and wanting to spend more time with their families. You can hardly compare Gabe to a Cassie or a Margaret Johnson. Those two women also performed those roles for well over a year without a break. Aaron performed for 4 months before leaving. Hardly comparable.
It's not an issue if the producers know about it. He's not stupid enough to just skip out on performances. He knows he would be brought up on Equity charges if he were.
Okay, now back on the actual topic; I'm not sure I see how, in terms of obligation, this is all that different from someone who perhaps misses a week of performances to go do a workshop, or a short run, or to film something. I get that the erratic nature of the timing is annoying to people who would like to plan to see Aaron, but in terms of professionalism, I don't know that it's all that different. Actors are absent due to other projects fairly often.
If in his contract it says "Performer will be out on various days, several times a week. Dates are still to be determined", then I don't see what the problem is. Both parties agreed with it when they signed the contract.
^ That's just it though. People miss for obligations all the time, but those obligations have set dates. I have NEVER heard of a contract that said "He will be missing x number of performance, the dates of which have yet to be determined." I feel like you guys are trying to draw comparisons to precedented situations, when, in fact, NOTHING about this situation is precedented.
Speaking of drawing conclusions how do YOU know that this not precedented?
TheatreFan, drawing comparisons and drawing conclusions are two different things. Perhaps learn the difference? I said the former. And it's not precedented as far as I know, but I would be HAPPY to concede if someone could point me in the direction of an example that was relevant and an accurate comparison to this one as that has yet to be done...
Fangirls also give Aaron their numbers when he's on stage. I actually think I witnessed it the last time I saw the show. They drop little pieces of paper with little notes on them with their numbers. Aaron takes them backstage and shows other people and they all have a good laugh.