Alice Ripley at the stage door

[JP2]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:18pm

Hey guys!
So, my friends and I finally saw Next to Normal last Friday. We were all BLOWN AWAY. It was truly incredible. But, I must say what really blew me away was Ms. Alice Ripley. Not only was her performance out of this world, but her presence at the stage door was something I'd never seen before. She was so kind and gracious, without the slightest hint of attitude. Not only did she make sure and sign EVERY playbill and poster, but she even made sure to stop and talk with every person who had waited for her. She gave them her full attention. I'm so used to other Tony winners rushing out the stage door, quickly signing a few autographs, and refusing pictures. It was refreshing to see how dedicated Ms. Ripley is to her fans. Heck, my camera broke and I asked her if I could record instead, and she said of course.

Granted, her exact words were "I'd do anything, I'm such a slut!", but that's beside the point!

Anyways, here's my stage door footage from the other night if anyone is interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW5d_WUmRjU

[Drillin4Oil]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:21pm

She's absolutely great! A real human being and very appreciative of her fans. You're blessed and lucky to have experienced Broadway royalty in the making!

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:22pm

JP2,

You look like you've been friends with her for your whole life!!!!! You should be in a show together.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:27pm

A true legit class act. The caboose to Elaine Stritch's crazy train, but as nice as they come.

[On_Avenue_Payt]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:38pm

I was there that night! I think I saw you.. haha, weird.

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:50pm

I have to admit, while I've never been a big Alice Ripley fan, the responses I've read and the feedback from everyone I know says that she is one of the most honorable and classy actresses working on Broadway today. She could be harsh and haughty as the most recently crowned "Best Actress" but she continues to be a gracious person. That's what Broadway needs and that's what Alice gives us. Class all the way.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:56pm

Yeah, she's definitely amazing at the stage door. She literally hung around for 15 minutes talking to people.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 10:57pm

The caboose to Elaine Stritch's crazy train, but as nice as they come.

I've met Alice Ripley several times (in social situations--not the stage door environment) and she's far from crazy. Eccentric, maybe. She obviously marches to the beat of her own drummer. But crazy is such a loaded and ugly word, and in this case, it couldn't be further from the truth.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:03pm

I didn't intend for "crazy" to be a negative-toned, adjective. Stritch and Riply are "crazy" and I love them for it!

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:10pm

Ah, okay. Point taken and understood. I guess the strain of people calling Ripley's sanity into question after the Tonys is still too fresh in my mind.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:16pm

Alice really is one of the most genuine people I've ever talked with at the stage door. She does give each person her full attention and seems to truly appreciate us.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:19pm

Wow...she's remarkable. How refreshing! So neat to see this video. Thanks.

[harris007]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:59pm

Loved that vid

[singalongsong2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 12:29am

Great video, JP!

[JP2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 12:30am

Thanks.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 11:37am

Hmmm, you've convinced me. I have a ticket to see the show tomorrow night for the 5th time, and I'm finally going to stagedoor it.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 11:38am

Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing. Alice is a dream and I can't stop listening to the N2N OCR. Thrilling from beginning to end.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 12:46pm

I love it so much! You and Alice are so cute!

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 4:52pm

Alice always has been a wonderfully gracious actress. Way back in the day a friend and I caught a Saturday matinee of James Joyce's The Dead. We were both huge fans of Side Show, and so specifically went to the stage door hoping to catch Alice and Emily. Emily came out, was quite lovely, signed our Playbills, took pictures, etc. We asked her if Alice would be coming out as well. She responded that she didn't know, ducked back inside and then left to get her meal.

A moment later the doorman came out and told my friend and I to wait for a moment before leaving. A couple minutes later Alice came out. She told us that she hadn't been planning on going out, but that Emily had sent word to her that we were hoping to catch her, so she couldn't let us down. I can't tell you how excited we were.

This just solidified my adoration of both Alice and Emily from that point on. Both of them went out of their way just to make two young fans happy. You can't ask for more from your Broadway idols.

[JP2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 4:55pm

Wow, that story is amazing!

[jamoca5]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 7:21pm

I've been wanting to see N2N for awhile, and hearing of how Alice Ripley is at the stagedoor is jusr amplifying that want. =)

JP, I've already mentioned to you (on YouTube) how I went NUTS when she just smiled at me in the street, I would just be a mess at the stage door. Makes me almost ashamed of myself. ALMOST.

~Ash was here

[winston89]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 12:00am

I remember the last time I saw the show was the last to come out and when she was done signing for everyone down the line they left only because no one was coming out. I was at the very end of the line and was not with anyone and I mentioned to her about how I have medical issues similar to her character and that lead into a fifteen min conversation. The stage door guy told her that her car had been waiting for her for a while and she told the guy that he would have to wait a few more min to finish up the conversation with me. We chatted for about five more min or so. I just loved the fact that she really put her fans first and that it is clear that their feedback is really something that they love hearing. I found this part to not just be true to Alice but to all the cast as well. This is a very fan friendly cast.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 1:48am

That was awesome JP! How does one friend Alice on facebook? I can't find her. Updated On: 7/3/09 at 01:48 AM

[Sparklesss]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 9:06am

Great story, Alice seems so great! That whole cast does actually.
I'm with you though, I hear about her facebook status but i can't seem to find her at all...

[winston89]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 9:59am

Speaking of Alice and facebook, when we were done talking she told me to add her on there because she wanted to continue the conversation we were having. Yet, I too have been unable to locate her on facebook.