Alice Ripley takes the subway- Page 6

[theaterfan862]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 4:43pm

BTW why does everyone think I am a woman? I am not offended but Reginald Tresilian and someone else keeps referring to me as "she". It is pretty funny actually.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 4:51pm

Sorry, theaterfan! I didn't investigate your profile (or enlarge your avatar).

Also, I guess I'm of an age where when I hear "my husband" my first assumption is that it's a woman talking. I'm VERY glad that that's increasingly not necessarily the case.

[theaterfan862]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 6:08pm

Reginald it is quite alright.

[Ragged Tear]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 7:39pm

Kelly2, I am sure that if a fan approaches an actor politely and expresses his/her appreciation for the actor's work, it might actually make the actor feel good. I am sure there are times that we all need a little positive feedback!

I mean, I wouldn't say to hump the actor's leg, for Pete's sake, but even I (non-starstruck most of the time) had to tell Julia Sweeney that I thought GOD SAID HA was the best one-person show I'd ever seen.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:17pm

"Kelly2, I am sure that if a fan approaches an actor politely and expresses his/her appreciation for the actor's work, it might actually make the actor feel good. I am sure there are times that we all need a little positive feedback! "

But how do you know? How do you know if someone's having a bad day or if they're running late to an audition or if they're just not the type who enjoys being approached in public? I'm sure some people do like compliments, acting attracts the type of person who likes approval from others inherently, but there is absolutely no way for you as a bystander to know what is going on in a total strangers life and whether or not they would appreciate being interrupted or not. And just because someone is polite to you does not mean they genuinely appreciate the disruption. Again, these are ACTORS. They are VERY used to having to put on incredibly convincing smiling faces when confronted with all kinds of invasive, weird behavior. No matter what the situation, I think it's rude to assume that you're the best judge of it, it seems pushy and presumptuous and selfish to me. Like I said, that is what the stage door is for. When an actor comes out, they know what to expect, but as Taboo said, these are normal people, not gods and goddesses. Nobody wants to be "on" all the time.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:24pm

Self-righteousness is an affliction. It is an inner desire to be accepted and valued. It is a camouflage for feelings of worthlessness. Self-value, self-worth, and self-esteem cannot come as a result of being the only right one. It must come from knowing who you are from within and feeling good about it.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:28pm

Sorry, I've been a PA for years for people of varying degrees of notoriety and people on the street can be a huge nuisance on a day with a tight time-schedule or say something they think is innocent that throws off someone's mood and it's a real pain. People need to think about other people and whether or not the moment is appropriate.

Updated On: 5/13/13 at 08:28 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:34pm

You know, these arguments about celebs and whether or not they're nice are totally worthless. For instance:- "Oh, Joe Blow is SO NICE. When I saw him on the street I was so polite and he was so happy to hear my compliments, blah blah, and he was so glad I saw the show, blah blah, and he said come to my concert " (of course come to my concert, are you kidding?) Then - "Oh, no Joe Blow is NOT nice. I tried to say hello politely to him one day and he kept going down the street."

So there's the debate over whether Joe Blow is nice. EVERYBODY is nice sometime, and not nice sometime. The whole topic is ridiculous to me.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:36pm

In Alice's case, judging by a few conversations and seeing her interact with people at stage doors/on Twitter/on FB, it seems that she genuinely does enjoy interacting with her fans.

I always get so stricken when I see actors on the street. Sutton Foster on 8th Avenue was the only encounter that rendered me reactionless, but usually I smile and nod or give a passing, "Have a good show," if they're currently on the boards.

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:47pm

Seriously, how do people who know enough about theatre to even know that this board exists not know that theatre actors do not make a lot of money?

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:09pm

>> "People need to think about other people and whether or not the moment is appropriate."
Yes, but that does not mean, "NEVER". You're trying to convince us that *all* theater actors *always* hate being approached by fans, and that coming out of the subway *always" means, "I'm late and in a hurry". That's just not even possible.

>> "Just because someone treats you nicely doesn't mean they appreciated being bothered."
...OR it means just the opposite.

>> "It's their job to be fake."
yipes...

Judging from theaterfan862's anecdote, the moment was appropriate and the outcome was pleasant for all parties. Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:09 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:12pm

"Thanks for following my threads. But they are never meant to mock or humiliate.
Humor comes in different forms, and humor stems from fear. Fear is faced in different ways for all of us. If they turn you off. look away. it's that simple. "

You're mistaken, taboo. I don't follow your threads. That one in particular stuck with me b/c one post had a woman injured so badly that a towel was needed to soak up the blood. Another had a man hit by falling scenery who had to be dragged off the stage.

This OP's thread seemed rather innocent and sweet.

"i just don't see the point in following broadway stars around, stalking stage doors for autographs and making them all 'godly' when they simply are all people just like us."

I haven't seen anyone in this thread doing any of those things. One thing to remember is that many of the posters here are New Yorkers and spend a lot of time on Broadway. Some live in the hinterlands or are maybe just young and aren't aware that Broadway isn't the cash cow they imagine it to be. That doesn't make them stupid, just uninformed.

Last, many actors do enjoy appreciation from fans passing by - when they don't you can be sure they'll let you know pretty quickly.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:15pm

"Yes, but that does not mean, "NEVER". You're trying to convince us that *all* theater actors *always* hate being approached by fans, and that coming out of the subway *always" means, "I'm late and in a hurry". That's just not even possible. "

No, but how do you know when it means that and when it doesn't? You're some person on the street making a guess at what's going on in the life of somebody you've never met. You don't KNOW where they are going or if they're in a hurry or if they're in a good or bad mood. Some people are genuinely just shy and feel uncomfortable in that kind of situation. So, you don't have ANY information to judge whether or not you're interrupting something or just bothering someone who really wishes to be left alone or not, and I think it's presumptuous and rude to assume you know best and go ahead and barge in anyway.

Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:15 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:15pm

Kelly, I'm curious to know if you fret about non-celebrities being approached on the street.

I'm approached by people pretty much every day, in no small part because of my location in the city. But whatever the reason, I'm approached by tourists asking directions, sometimes asking me to take a picture (again, because of my location). I am asked for money, by homeless people, by people working for Children International, by the ASPCA. I'm approached by Jews for Jesus and by people wanting me to take menus for new or old restaurants.

In case you're worried, I'm fine. In each case, I deal with it according to my mood, what's going on for me, where I'm heading, how the person approaches me, whatever signals I pick up on about that person.

I'm willing to bet that NYC-based celebrities have at least the same skills set that I have: to engage or not, briefly or not at all, with people who decide to approach them.





Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:15 PM

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:18pm

Reg, I've been living here most of my life, people like that you just ignore and keep walking. I'm pretty sure if someone approached a Broadway "celeb" and they just ignored them and kept on walking, that person would be called rude and get tarred and feathered for not giving the fan the attention they want. It happens on the stage door threads on here constantly.

I have no doubt everyone has the skills to handle an interaction, the question is should they even have to "handle" it at all. We're not talking about running into friends or co-workers here. I don't fret about it, but if we're having a discussion about appropriateness, I'm stating my opinion. I've had to deal with this with people I've worked for and it can be quite irritating.

Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:18 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:20pm

And nor was I.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:23pm

To be clear, I'm neither friends nor colleagues with any of the people I described who approach me on a daily basis.

My point is that I don't expect any of those people to intuit what my situation is, where I'm going, what's on my calendar for that day. If I have the time and the inclination, I engage with them. If I don't, I don't.

As I said before, my "celeb" friends do exactly the same. Might someone think they're rude on the occasion when they don't stop for a conversation? I suppose so. I've also been called an asshole by a panhandler I ignored. What's the difference?





Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:23 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:24pm

>> "No, but how do you know when it means that and when it doesn't?"

I dunno... How do I know a bird's not gonna poop on my head if I leave my house today, or if it will?

I don't know. ...but I feel pretty sure that not *all* birds are gonna poop on my head today, so I think I might venture out. Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:24 PM

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:29pm

"As I said before, my "celeb" friends do exactly the same. Might someone think they're rude on the occasion when they don't stop for a conversation? I suppose so. I've also been called an asshole by a panhandler I ignored. What's the difference? "

My point is I wish people could be more respectful of other peoples' time and space and that applies across the board to anyone who violates other peoples' personal space when it's not wanted. If you're truly a fan of someone's, that should come with respecting their space. Obviously stuff is doing to happen and that's life, I just think if you're a fan of someone's, the street isn't the appropriate time to interact.

"I dunno... How do I know a bird's not gonna poop on my head if I leave my house today?"

That's a pretty ridiculous and completely inapt comparison. Jesus, why do people who were allegedly just fans and lovers of musical theatre feel so entitled to personal attention? I'll never understand it. Approach whoever you want and show off the story like a personal trophy for all I care, nobody I'm friends with needs the shove themselves in their favorite actor's face when they're eating matzoh ball soup at the Edison to appreciate their work.

Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:29 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:34pm

So essentially, you feel the same outrage when someone from UNICEF approaches my company's receptionist as you do when a fan approaches Lillias White?

If that's the case, then I guess I agree. Though I still think it's misplaced anxiety.

Also for the record, at least one of my celeb Broadway friends infinitely prefers being approached on the street instead of at the stage door after a performance. He gets that nowadays people thinks it goes with the job, but at that point he's tired and just wants to "leave work."

So again, if Alice seemed pleased with the interaction--and it sounds as though she did--maybe she should be the one to decide what's appropriate and what's not.





Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:34 PM

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:41pm

"So essentially, you feel the same outrage when someone from UNICEF approaches my company's receptionist as you do when a fan approaches Lillias White? "

I don't feel outrage at either. I find it to be very irritating in any situation when someone I do not know tries to demand my time or attention when I'm trying to work or get somewhere on time or even just have a conversation with a friend I'm trying to pay attention to. Fans can be a whole different animal because a lot of the time, it's not a quick "you're great, okay bye", then it turns into wanting an autograph or wanting a photo and, I'm sorry, some people just cannot read social cues to know when they've overstayed their welcome. Not everyone is respectful and kind. Most people aren't. Would be much nicer if they were. Nobody ever thinks THEY are the problem, it's always other people who take it too far or act crazy and that they have behaved in a completely appropriate way, but if we took everyone's assessment of themselves as gospel, then a lot of mental hospitals would be out of business.

My point about the stage door is one can expect to be asked questions or asked to sign autographs, etc. when they leave, whether they enjoy it or not (and if they don't, nobody forces anybody to sign), someone leaving the gym or trying to dash to the subway would not necessarily be expecting to have to be "on" if they were interrupted by a fan. Things are even more hairy now because being rude to someone on the street, or even just being curt because one is unable to talk, now can end up with somebody getting a BroadwayWorld thread dedicated to how rude they are or complaining on various social media and what have you. While most Broadway actors I know don't care about that kind of petty, infantile complaining, it's still part of the dynamic in a way that it shouldn't be. I know I've been told more than a few times how careful many actors are with how they react to things because of how easy it is for every word or gesture to be misinterpreted and then dissected online for thousands to read. It's a sticky situation no matter how you slice it and to me, the most appropriate, respectful thing to do would to be to not engage. That's all.

Updated On: 5/13/13 at 09:41 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:57pm

Kelly, in effect, if a person strives to become famous in a profession in which they acquire a fan base, is this not part of the deal? No, I am NOT saying they are obligated to be "on" but being approached by adoring fans is probably in the fine print in the contract they signed with Mephistopheles. Most people are perceptive and can read
body language. Some unfortunate souls sadly can't.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 10:07pm

That's another debate. I'm articulating my belief on what is appropriate behavior for a fan when they run into a "celebrity" on the street, nothing more. And believe it or not, some people are in this business for love of performance, not for want of fame.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 10:07pm

"I'm sorry, some people just cannot read social cues to know when they've overstayed their welcome. Not everyone is respectful and kind. Most people aren't."

You seem to have a lot of data, so I'll just assume that my experiences and those of my acquaintances are aberrations.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 10:10pm

"You seem to have a lot of data, so I'll just assume that my experiences and those of my acquaintances are aberrations."

Sadly I do. I can think of plenty "fan encounters" on the street I've witnessed and heard about through friends where the fan hasn't even had a kind word to say. A friend who played a lead in a fairly popular show was stopped on the street once and chastised by a "fan" for being out sick when she saw the show. For every well-meaning person, there are five more who aren't quite so nice.